Canadian company proposes distillery, restaurant in Harborcreek
A new distillery, restaurant and tasting room could be coming to Harborcreek Township soon.
The Harborcreek Township Planning Commission on Thursday evening will take a first look at a preliminary land development plan from Artist in Residence Distillerie. The Quebec-based company intends to build the restaurant, plus manufacturing facilities and warehouses, at 6100 Station Road, south of Interstate 90 near the Station Road interchange, according to the land development plan.
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Artist in Residence is based in Gatineau, Quebec, where the company operates its first distillery. A second facility is under construction in Hawkesbury, Ontario, near Ottawa, and is expected to begin production this summer.
Artist in Residence founder and President Pierre Mantha told the Ottawa Citizen in June that he plans to build a third distillery in Canada, five in the U.S. and one each in Mexico and Colombia. The Harborcreek distillery would be the company's first outside Canada.
"We're thrilled to have an international company locating its first U.S. site in Harborcreek," said Harborcreek Township Supervisor Dean Pepicello, who oversees zoning and administration for the township.
The Harborcreek location along Interstate 90 and its proximity to Interstates 86 and 79 were factors in the company selecting the site, Pepicello said.
"I think the location is conducive to their transportation and distribution plan," he said.
The Harborcreek distillery would make whiskey, vodka, rum and liqueurs, according to a report in le Droit Numerique, a Quebec news organization.
Artist in Residence has indicated that the Harborcreek facility will be identical to the $40 million Hawkesbury, Ontario, distillery, Pepicello said.
The Harborcreek development plan includes 18,000-square-foot and 34,500-square-foot manufacturing buildings; 31,000 square-foot and 20,000 square-foot warehouses; and a 7,200-square foot restaurant with tasting room and liquor shop.
If recommended by the township Planning Commission Thursday, the development plan will go to township supervisors for preliminary consideration April 19.
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The Planning Commission and supervisors would consider the project for final approval in May.
"Because it's a major land development, the Planning Commission and supervisors will each take two looks at it before final approval," Pepicello said.
The approximately 12-acre site for the distillery includes two properties that Artist in Residence plans to combine. It is adjacent to the property where windmill turbines for a New York energy project have been stored.
"The site basically surrounds the property where the blades have been stored," Pepicello said.
This story was first reported by Erie News Now.
Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@timesnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Distillery, restaurant and tasting shop planned in Harborcreek
