Neighbors Blast Vineyard 48

Neighbors who said their quality of lives have been irrevocably altered turned out  at Tuesday night's Southold town board meeting to blast Vineyard 48.

The winery, located on County Road 48 in Cutchogue, has sparked fierce opposition in recent years with loud dance parties, large crowds, and a flood of cars, limos and party buses that residents say have converged on their bucolic landscape.

Neighbor William Shipman told Supervisor Scott Russell and the town board that he attended Tuesday night's town board meeting, one day after residents spoke out against the winery at a planning board public hearing on the business' plans to expand the parking lot and build an outdoor pavilion -- to further express his frustration.

The town, Shipman said, has commenced litigation against Vineyard 48 and  retained attorney Frank Isler in 2012 in regard to the legal proceedings. 

The case, Shipman said, has been adjourned numerous times, with no opposition from the town. The business, Shipman added, is operating under a state protection act that allows them to operate despite pending litigation.

Of the proposed site plan amendments, Shipman said, "I see an extreme conflict of interest in approving this site plan amendment and building permit."

Councilwoman Louisa Evans told Shipman that the town board had nothing to do with the planning board.

"We can't interfere with their decision-making process," Russell said. "But the planning board is diligent in their discussions with the town attorneys."

"If it's approved, it's criminal," Shipman said. "They're trying to sneak this through so they can go to the State Liquor Authority and say the town approved a 140-foot structure to have events in."

In April, the SLA launched an investigation of the business that could potentially revoke its farm winery license.The vineyard has been the topic of debate as it's promoted parties on site, asking people to "come join the sexiest people on Long Island!"

While managers Dale Suter and Matt McBride have argued that the parties are the vineyard's cost of doing business, town leaders have revisited the town code to review the issue of recurring large-scale events at agricultural operations such as wineries, which some say is a pattern beyond just Vineyard 48.

The SLA probe investigation was prompted by a list of complaints, including noise, public lewdness, and parking issues neighbors say are ruining their quality of life.

Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley said on Wednesday that so far this season, there have been about five to six calls about the business and one arrest.
The hearings are expected to begin again soon, as the Southold police just "delivered a large amount of police department records that they (the Vineyard 48 attorneys) subpoenaed," Flatley said.

At Tuesday's meeting, Shipman said that the original site plan in place only allows for 34 cars in the parking lot. "The building inspector should go take a look at that," Shipman said.

He added that while the three families that own the business are "wealthy," the the town is spending large amounts of money to pay for litigation. "How much has this town spent on this?" he demanded.

"Whatever it is, it's been too much," Councilman Chris Talbot said.

"They're terrorizing a community," Shipman said. "They're bleeding this small-town community out of money."

Of the amended site plan, he added, "They're still making money, still terrorizing us -- and now, all of a sudden, they want want to make things right? They're grasping at straws."

One neighbor, who asked not to be identified, lives on County Road 48 near the business and asked if the town could prevent the party buses and limos from parking in front of her driveway.

"My kids and I are nearly killed every weekend because someone is on the shoulder," she said. "Buses park there to empty their vineyard patrons, who walk down County Road 48. is that under the town's purvey or am I out of luck?"

Town Attorney Martin Finnegan said the business is not allowed to have more than 34 vehicles under their site plan.

"So they park in front of my yard -- it's the only shady spot," she said. "Most of the time I go to work on Saturdays -- I can't stand to be there anymore at all."

When she asks the limo and bus drivers to move, they are "not nice," the neighbor said, adding that her family has to breathe exhaust fumes from the vehicles.

Finnegan suggested the woman call the police.

"So they can say, 'You again?'" the neighbor said.

Talbot said if any officer spoke to her that way, she should ask for their name. "You guys are enduring a living hell over there. We have to try to reign it in."

Tears in her eyes, the woman said there is a "For Sale" sign outside her home. "We have to move out of town because of that crummy business. Our life has been ruined. It's an ongoing safety issue for my family and me. It's just very painful."

Owners of Vineyard 48 could not immediately be reached for comment.

What do you think about the ongoing controversy surrounding Vineyard 48? Is the business ruining your quality of life in Southold Town? Or do you think the crowds are good for the local economy? Share your thoughts with Patch.