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Clear rules on outdoor events, noise and capacity limits are just a few of the zoning changes a group of wineries are seeking in a proposed settlement on Old Mission Peninsula.
The offer comes from the group Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula, which won $50 million in damages when a court ruled that the township’s zoning ordinance was unconstitutional.
"The money isn't the point, really," said Chris Baldyga, a winery owner and spokesperson for the group. "It's the rights and the operational things that we want to do for clarity, for running our family farms."
He says if the township and the wineries come to an agreement on zoning changes they’ll decide on how much to reduce the $50 million in damages.
He says clear, updated regulations are needed for more than just wineries as traditional farms struggle to stay profitable through agriculture alone.
"I know it's not the Township's job to save agriculture out here," he said, "but they sure as heck, I think, should be incentivizing creativity, flexibility and ways for small farmers to adapt and do more on their farms."
The township could propose the settlement to its trustees within the next few weeks.
