The would-be purveyors of a planned destination winery in Wrightstown have modified the proposed development plan to address issues raised by adjoining property owners and the local zoning hearing board, according to municipal officials.
A sketch plan outlining the possible scope of the project came up as a topic at Monday’s public meeting of the Wrightstown Board of Supervisors.
The Rienzi family wants to establish the winery on a nearly 26-acre property it owns on the 500 block of Swamp Road.
The sketch plan discussed Monday calls for a 3,000-square-foot winery and 2,400-square-foot event space under a tent, the township shared.
Officials said the winery building would be for production and storage, but also feature a first floor tasting area plus executive offices and a small party room on the second floor.
“The proposed project was pushed further back from a neighboring property and the location of the outdoor tent area is located behind the winery to provide additional buffering” to neighboring properties, said Supervisor Chairman Chester Pogonowski.
Attorneys for the Rienzi family represented that issues related to previous concerns have been addressed by this plan.
Still, there’s a way to go before the project may come to fruition.
“The plans are being reviewed by the various township professionals,” noted Pogonowski, adding that supervisors have made no decision on whether or not to allow land development to proceed.
In a parallel action, the Rienzi family has filed an appeal of a zoning hearing board decision related to an earlier proposed incarnation of the winery project. The Rienzi family had been seeking variances — exceptions from local zoning rules — that would allow the project to move forward.
Pogonowski shared that other property owners and the township have become involved in the appeal process, but actual court action is currently on hold. There’s hope such action will never be necessary.
“While the appeal preserves the property rights of all involved, the resubmitted sketch plan is a good-faith effort by the Rienzis to come to a workable resolution acceptable to all parties,” Pogonowski said.
The property currently has 2.1 acres of grapes under cultivation with plans to expand this to five acres.
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