To the editor:
Rep. Amy Rice, in a recent letter to the editor on the proposed new winery for Greenvale Vineyards, characterized my letter to the newspaper as “absurd” and “seeking to drum up opposition.”
I believe that we are a society that welcomes the open discussion of issues to that ensure all the facts and consequences of the issues are identified. One of my main concerns with the new winery proposal deals with the legislation that Ms. Rice sponsored and referred to in her letter, which now allows wineries to sell wine by the glass or the bottle for consumption on site. I characterized this expanded role for wineries as being “bar-like.” The definition of a bar, used in this context, is an establishment that sells alcoholic beverages for consumption on site. I stand by my characterization.
I will reiterate that I fully understand the need for wineries to grow their business. However, the expanded commercial side of the winery business is not appropriate, nor legal, in residentially zoned areas. Ms. Rice states that she is a proponent of open space and economic development. I am too, but I believe we have a responsibility to ensure that the management and execution of open space and economic development conform to the governing zoning ordinances.
The “law of unintended consequences” states that what may seem to be a good idea on the surface can have significant negative effects. This is the case with the proposal to build a new winery and bottling facility at the corner of Wapping Road and Greenvale Lane in Portsmouth.
Molly Donohue Magee
Portsmouth
Are we going to stop farmer from selling produce or cord wood.We need to be helping farms not zoning them out of business.Stop with the NIMBY tactics and work to help this farm prosper .
I have been to this vineyard many times and seen them serving wine.....and can tell you with supreme confidence "This is no bar".
It is a tourist attraction and a little bit of heaven for those who like to see the real beauty of this Eden we call Rhode Island.
Humans have this thing called......COMMON SENSE.
The writer can make whatever case she wants using the English Language, but this is no bar. This is a working farm.
I agree craigmass open space is open space to look at and appreciate, a farm is a farm all farms sell products and to allow the tasting of product they grow is common sense as you so rightfully say.
Jack
Growing up in Portsmouth in the 60's I remember all the farms that covered half of the town.Cows and corn as far as the eye could see.Local farms gave jobs to people in the area and fresh produce .The milk at our school came from a farm on West main Rd.that is no longer there .The little glass bottles with a paper top were filled and delivered for consumption.They were returned cleaned and refilled again.The cows provided milk, meat, and fertilizer for the fields to grow produce.Farmers could earn a living on there land and were proud of there heritage.I,m told Taxes such as the inheritance tax and property taxes drove much of the change we see in town.Farmers sold parts of there land to pay them and the development frenzy began.There are a few farms left in town and I hope they can survive.I miss the old Portsmouth and the rural look it used to have.
