No Parking, Standing Law Near Vineyard 48 Gets Green Light

After months of heated outcry from neighbors who said they'd had enough of the traffic congestion and unsafe conditions sparked by a flood of limos and party buses outside Vineyard 48 in Cutchogue, some relief is in sight.

On Tuesday, the Southold Town board voted unanimously to approve legislation that prohibits parking and standing on both sides of County Road 48, from the western corner of Depot Lane westerly for approximately 1420 feet.

The local law was enacted due to conditions that "impact the public health, safety, and welfare" of the community, due to "undue congestion, restrictions on access, and maneuverability as well as dangerous traffic impact," according to the new legislation.

Despite months of heated discourse, during a public hearing preceding the vote, no one spoke.

After the vote, however, neighbor William Shipman, who has spoken publicly about his frustration over Vineyard 48 and its impact on his quality of life, said it was "unfortunate" that Southold Town would have to spend money on "no parking" signage.

"Just tack it on," he said, adding that the town was paying a hefty sum for litigation involving the winery.

For months, residents have brought their concerns before the board. In June, neighbors who said their quality of lives have been irrevocably altered turned out for a 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.

Shipman told Supervisor Scott Russell and the town board that he attended the June 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, had commenced litigation against Vineyard 48 and retained attorney Frank Isler in 2012 in regard to the legal proceedings. 

The case, Shipman said, had 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 promoted parties, 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.

At the June 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 asked the limo and bus drivers to move, they were "not nice," the neighbor said, adding that her family had to breathe exhaust fumes from the vehicles.

Tears in her eyes, the woman, in June, said there was 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.