Lodi planners OK move of Weibel tasting room

The Lodi Planning Commission approved permits for Weibel Family Tasting Room’s upcoming move to a larger space during its meeting Wednesday night.

Weibel Family Tasting Room is in the process of moving from its current space, located at 13 N. School St., to 9 N. School St. According to Lodi City Planner Craig Hoffman, the permits approved by the commission will allow for a tasting room and the sale of beer and wine in the new space.

Weibel has been in its current location since 2013 and is one of the core wine tasting rooms in the Downtown area, Hoffman said.

Due to the business’ growth, it is in need of larger space.

“We ran into a small problem — the tasting room that we have is too small for us, and we have to turn people away. That’s why we would like to move down to 9 N. School St.,” Weibel Incorporated President Fred Weibel said.

Hoffman said he received concerns about the amount of alcohol within the Downtown area. However, he said, the amount of alcohol in the Downtown area has remained static.

“They’ve had no complaints and no comments from the police. They’ve been a great tenant in the Downtown and have helped brand Downtown as a destination,” Hoffman said.

According to Weibel, because of their early hours — 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends — he didn’t feel the tasting room would be a detriment to the community.

Commissioner Mitchell Slater said that the tasting room was well managed, and he didn’t have any concerns.

The current space will maintain its permits, which will allow for other tasting rooms to operate there, and the Weibels are current in negotiations with a local winery to sublease it. The Weibels anticipate that the new space will be ready in May.

Also on Wednesday night, the commission approved a parcel map for a condo lot with six residential units at 1911 S. Church St. According to Hoffman, the project site is currently vacant, and has been for quite some time. The parcel is zoned as high residential and previously allowed for seven condos. The six condos would share a driveway and would have shared maintenance of the property, Hoffman said.

According to Jeffrey Kirst of Crystal Enterprises, the applicant for the request, the property was purchased from the family of Irvin Bender, who originally developed all of the condos on Turner Road and Rutledge Drive. According to Kirst, Bender had plans similar to theirs, but he passed away before he could act on those plans. The estate wanted to sell the property so Crystal Enterprises purchased it, Kirst said.

According to Kirst, they took Bender’s plans and “massaged it a little bit” by slightly enlarging the living room space in the condos and making them townhouse style. They also separated the condos to give them individuality and make them seem more like a house. The condos will have two bedrooms, one and a half baths and a one car garage, Kirst said.

The plan is to rent out the condos for 10 years after that period they will decide if they want to sell them or not. Rent will be $1,000 per month.