Grapevine City Council along with the Planning and Zoning Commission discussed a request for the permission of possession, storage and retail sale of wine beverage in relation to a winery on 112 E. Texas St. during the Feb. 18 council meeting.
Co-owners Ralph Mattison and Alan Kunst stood before both groups, fielding questions from the council and commission regarding outdoor seating, hours of operation and services the winery will provide.
The two owners met in the military and first formulated the plan to start a winery 15 years ago, Mattison said. The new facility would be the first veteran-owned winery in Grapevine.
"We plan on bringing a true winery to Grapevine. Our focus is on Texas wine."
Mattison said the winery would operate as more than just a space for wine tasting. It will also operate the entire wine-producing process including fermentation, bottling and distribution. There will be walled-off spaces within the building that separates production from the patrons, Mattison said.
The proposed building is located across the street from First Baptist Church. The council expressed concern that being open while the church was having services could be an issue. Currently, Mattison said the winery would be open on that day from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. but is open to making changes to the schedule.
Mayor William D. Tate also questioned the need for outside seating, which Mattison said "is paramount."
The council tabled the consideration for the winery until the next meeting in March in order to re-consider any changes to the proposed plan by the applicant, including Sunday hours and the inclusion of outside tables.
The council also heard several residents speak on the request to video-record council meetings using multimedia services from Swagit Productions, LLC.
"I believe in the transparency of this government," one resident in favor of the recording said.
The council voted to table the item and revisit it in the next March meeting. City manager Bruno Rumbelow said the Swagit team would be present to answer further questions.