Final approval for wedding, wine venue

By Adam Rollins, Record Staff Writer
Posted 11/6/17

Warren County Commissioners have given the final go-ahead for wine and beer sales at a future wedding venue and reception hall on North Stringtown Road outside Wright City.Commissioners heard a …

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Final approval for wedding, wine venue

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Warren County Commissioners have given the final go-ahead for wine and beer sales at a future wedding venue and reception hall on North Stringtown Road outside Wright City.Commissioners heard a protest Thursday, June 1, against allowing retail sales, including alcohol, at the site owned by John and Simeen Cook. They ruled in favor of the Cooks on Monday, with conditions.The Cooks say they want to have the location open to the public as a “wine garden” on weekends when they don’t have weddings scheduled. Visitors could purchase wine and beer and relax at a scenic venue decorated with art from local artists, they said.Commissioners expressed concern about the venue becoming a place where someone “can just stop in and get a beer,” but the Cooks essentially said their beverages would be too pricey for the casual drinking crowd.The permit granted to the Cooks allows for sales only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and prohibits the sale of hard liquor.The Cooks, area residents and county officials have been embroiled in months of hearings to debate whether the commercial venue is appropriate for a mostly residential and agricultural area.Commissioners approved the venue itself in late May, leaving opponents with little expectation that they would deny the retail sales permit.“The decision’s been made, so we can just go forward and hope for the best,” said Karen Adkins, who lives in a neighborhood off of Stringtown Road.For his part, John Cook said he is glad to finally be past the hearings. He has been delaying major construction work at the 12-acre woodland site while awaiting the results.“I was at a point where I need to know which way to go. Now I’ve got my direction and can move forward,” Cook said.He said renovation of an existing structure at the site would be finished by fall, and that he hopes to have a septic system installed by then to have the wine garden side of the business open by September.Then a crew can get to work constructing a new reception hall building for the 2018 wedding season.The site in question is about a quarter mile from the Interstate 70 North Service Road. The Cooks purchased the property in January.They formerly owned Celebration Hall in Jonesburg, and said they are upgrading to a larger venue. They want to use the scenic woodland setting of the property for outdoor weddings, and the reception hall would accommodate more than 200 people.A group of area residents opposed the venue, saying that it would bring unwelcome noise, traffic and drunk drivers to their area.County officials ultimately ruled that outdoor noise restrictions several voluntary safety commitments from the Cooks were enough to overcome the objections.Venue


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