AMHERST – Two years ago, owners of LaBelle Winery planned what they called an artisan village across from their vineyards and restaurant that have become a landmark on Route 101.

Plans to expand the business, with an inn, tavern, distillery and office space, hit a snag, however, when an abutter challenged it.

Now, Amy LaBelle and Cesar Arboleda have come up with an alternative that will go before the Amherst Planning Board for a lot line adjustment in February.

At an informal discussion with the board last fall, Ken Clinton, of Meridian Land Services, said there are 65-70 acres owned by Camp Young Judea directly behind LaBelle and extending into Merrimack. If the winery can expand into about 4 acres of that property, it would help with some of LaBelle’s immediate needs.

If such a plan is “designed, permitted and approved” the court challenge would be dropped, he said.

Clinton’s plan calls for a distillery, tasting room and office space behind the winery, and the Amherst Zoning Board has approved a variance.

There would not be enough room for all the proposed uses – no inn and tavern are part of this new plan, but they still might be built across the highway, Clinton said.

Abutter Richard Fredette appealed the Amherst Zoning Board’s approval of the plan for the land across the highway, saying it was too dense for this semi-rural part of town.

Clinton told the planning board the case has gone to mediation, and there is some “level of agreement between attorneys.”

Board members were interested in how the building will look from the roads, and Peter Lyon, the selectman’s representative to the board, said he likes the new concept, because it minimizes traffic crossing the highway.

LaBelle told the board she liked the original “village” concept planned for what is known as the Bragdon property across the highway.

But moving the distillery behind the winery, she said, “makes a lot of sense.”

On Feb. 21, the planning board will review the request for a lot line adjustment.

Kathy Cleveland can be reached at 673-3100 or kcleveland@cabinet.com.