For years there has been drama surrounding the safety of my family home in York. It began when a local distillery applied to expand to age more whiskey. Through research we realized there are unwelcome byproducts of the whiskey distilling process that negatively affect the surrounding area. Current ordinances do not have requirements of any kind for this type of manufacturing.
Whiskey aging intentionally off-gasses ethanol in order to concentrate the flavor. This vapor is a superfood to a naturally occurring fungus, causing it to colonize and cover homes, cars and vegetation. Furthermore, even though they house thousands of gallons of flammable liquid in wooden barrels, the buildings used to age spirits are not required to have fire suppression systems or fire alarms. At best, this will drop the value of properties within that area.
Sensible buffers are needed. My family will vote “Yes” on Article 12.
Rhiannon Razzaboni
York
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