Residents oppose permit

#MiddleburyCT #TranquillityVineyard #LiquorPermit

By MARJORIE NEEDHAM

This sign notified residents who drove down Rte. 64 that Tranquillity Vineyards is applying for a Craft Cafe liquor permit. The permit allows businesses to remain open until 1 a.m. weeknights and and 2 a.m. on weekends.
(Submitted photo)

Updated 03-11-2025 to add MLT contact info

Middlebury residents and officers of the Middlebury Land Trust expressed opposition to Tranquillity Vineyard’s application for a Connecticut craft cafe permit at the March 3 Board of Selectmen (BoS) and March 6 Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) meetings, respectively. The vineyard already has a Farm Winery Liquor permit for its 29 Tranquility Road location in Middlebury.

The new permit would allow the vineyard to sell spirits manufactured elsewhere. Service could be at outside tables, and service would be allowed from 9 a.m to 1 a.m. the next morning Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. the next morning Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. the next morning on Sunday.

The sign announcing the application, since removed, (see photo) mentioned entertainment including live bands, acoustics (not amplified), comedians, disc jockeys, karaoke, and magicians. Although food must be available during the majority of hours alcohol is sold and consumed, a craft cafe does not need to have a kitchen or dining room.

The sign also says the Liquor Control Board must receive objections to the permit by March 18. Objections can take the form of individual letters or what is called “remonstrance,” a formal procedure in which people sign and submit a petition and the Liquor Control Board holds a hearing for presentation of objections to the permit. Afterwards, the Board writes a decision explaining why it granted either the remonstrance or the liquor permit.

Letters and remonstrance petitions need to be emailed to DCP.LiquorRemonstrance@CT.gov. The mailing address is Department of Consumer Protection, Liquor Control Division, 450 Columbus Blvd., Suite 901, Hartford, CT 06103. Submissions must be received no later than Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

Residents Katrina Anger and Dale Barton expressed their concerns at the BoS meeting. Anger, who lives on Lake Quassapaug, said she is always grateful when Quassy Amusement Park closes for the day and the noise stops. She said she is concerned about potential noise from the vineyard. Barton, speaking via Zoom, said people visiting the vineyard already park in her driveway, blocking her access, and some have urinated on her property.

Middlebury Land Trust co-presidents Alice Hallaran and Tom Cunningham spoke at the P&Z meeting, pointing out the Trust has an agricultural easement on the property, and the easement says activities there are to be limited to agricultural activities. They are concerned other types of activities either are or will be taking place there.

Hallaran can be contacted via email at akhallaran@gmail.com. More detailed reporting on this matter will follow.