Grapes of Wrath: Locals Clash Over St. James Winery's Event Permit

Residents demanded Smithtown town officials reject Whisper Vineyard’s request for a special event permit that would allow the vineyard to host weddings and other outdoor events at Thursday night’s public hearing.

Whisper Vineyards, part of Borella Farms owned by Steve and Laura Gallagher, has proposed to build a 19,000-square-foot tasting room and seasonal café on the south side of Edgewood Avenue. The special event permit would allow them to host weddings, festivals and other outdoor events.

“I don’t begrudge Steve [Gallagher] his grapes, his winery and his tasting room. That’s fine. We all thought that happening. Now all of a sudden we have a catering hall being shoved down our throat and we are supposed to be quilted by the fact this is good for our economics and our community. That’s a bunch of baloney,” said Susan Rapp of St. James.

Residents cited concerns about loud noise from DJs hired for special events and increased traffic on Edgewood Avenue from a proposed 360-person event limit, proposed by the applicant’s attorney Vincent Trimarco. Both noise and traffic are already issues facing the community.

An air cannon used by the farm’s owners to scare birds off the crops came under fire from residents for already producing excessive noise, who fear DJs or bands using a sound system would be worse.

“For more than a year now, during the summer time, we’ve been putting up with the popping sound of a cannon once every minute,” said Jeannette Scully of Smithtown. “We’ve given up enough for Borella Farm, we don’t need more music or noise coming from that property.”

St. James resident Frank Eisinger expressed concern the winery’s events could further increase traffic on Edgewood Avenue.

“Approval of this application will create a nightmare along Edgewood Avenue. Edgewood Avenue is known as Smithtown Bypass North, a one-lane road in either direction that is already bumper-to-bumper at rush hour,” Eisinger said.

Irma Gurman, of Smithtown, is worried about potential accidents from those exiting the winery into heavy traffic near Nessaquake Middle School.

“There will be people leaving the winery under the influence driving down the road while children are walking to-from school,” she said.

Steve Bate, executive director of Long Island Wine Council, told town board that a permit to hold special events would be critical to Whisper Vineyards’ future success and residents were speaking out based on fears of a “worst-case scenario.”

“I think it’s important to note our members are not in the business of throwing wild parties and turning intoxicated people loose on the roads. Our local products come at a high price so that most event are clearly targeted at a certain type of clientele,” Bate said.

James Waters, a member Long Island Farm Bureau’s board of directors, said four farms have closed on Long Island in the last six months, and this type of diversification is proving necessary for survival.

“It makes sense for the town. It makes sense for the taxes. It make sense for land preservation but people have to realize, yes, they have to realize on their side it might affect the community,” he said.

Supervisor Patrick Vecchio told winery owners they still haven’t provided detailed enough event plans to meet the town’s ordinance, which could make it difficult for the town board to vote on the permit at a future meeting.

Trimarco disputed the supervisor's claim citing a Jan. 25 letter to the board, and said it would be impossible to estimate events or attendees with no experience.

Town Attorney John Zollo is expected to take up the issue of interpretation of the ordinance over upcoming days.