Directions from Trail Wineries

Where to start? The story seems almost surreal at this point. I must explain, we haven't said much in our defense because we believe in positive actions and didn’t want to become engaged in a spitting match. We do, however believe that educated people make good decisions and we want you to have all of the facts as best we can provide them. So here is some of the other side of the story and we are happy to reveal any other information that you may want. It started as an idea that would hopefully grow into a win-win situation. Forum heath had closed down Southside and a winery is a quiet agricultural business that held alot of appeal for us. We had been "researching" it for years. So we called the township zoning inspector, got the OK, got our licenses to make and sell wine approved and opened our doors. FYI: our lot at the time was 200'x200', (within the zoning restriction of 125’x100’ for agriculture within an R-1 district). It is now just over 2 acres and we own other property in the neighborhood. We bought the long-vacant neighboring homes and are restoring them in hopes of revitalizing the neighborhood. They didn't want you to know that. Interesting to note that these guys would rather have 3 boarded up homes next to them (great for moral and property values alike) then a vineyard and winery which improves property values. There are developers who anchor an entire neighborhood around a winery to increase appeal (and value). A local example is the development in the works in Springfield. On another note, a church, a public school or a private school is also an approved use in an r-1 district. I am sure that THOSE wouldn't generate any traffic at all. The citizens who live on Pointview were worried about the increased traffic for the new boat dock, but the trustees thought that that traffic is OK.

Mark and Dick used to come to the winery. Mark signed our Sunday sales petition (I don't know if Dick can vote). It wasn't until we purchased a piece of property that turned out to be where Dick had his garden and had been keeping as his back yard that they seemed to have a change of heart. Dick had told the property owner that the property was several lots to the South. It had been offered to Dick, but he lowballed it. Imagine our surprise when the surveyor put the stakes out! So, a fellow who, as he put it to me, was home on disability from working as the township road supervisor for "psychological revenge issues" is now mad that we own the land that he was "borrowing". Apparently, not a good guy to get mad.
There has also been a petition of some 50 persons in our surrounding area in opposition to the winery. As I understand it, they were told that if the winery was allowed to remain, then the next thing to move in would be a gas station. Who wouldn't oppose a new gas station moving in next to them! I would have signed it too! Interestingly, in further conversations it was revealed that at least 2 of the persons signing it didn't even know what the petition was about. I wonder how fully and with what slant the situation was really explained. Funny, I have never seen a gas station listed as an agricultural activity.
So when all of this started to become an issue we stared doing more homework. We called the State Dept. of Agriculture and our Mahoning County Extension. We were told that in Ohio wineries are agriculture and that we are a “right to farm” state. We were given the ORC passages to support this (read ORC 519.1-21). When I called David, our local extension agent and he confirmed our legality, he said that he was contacted by our zoning inspector Jennifer Terry with agricultural questions often enough to know her, but that no, she had never called him to ask about Myrddin Winery. Also interesting to note, at the same time our township trustees are spending money to prosecute us, our township lawyer is advising a neighboring township that a new winery in a residential area is agriculture and a permitted use (on a smaller acreage than we have). I don't blame him- why would he turn down work when the trustees are so determined?
So back to the Farm Bureau. We asked for their help because despite our efforts to present the pertinent passages of the Ohio Revised Code and the Lake Milton Zoning Code (both available on line) to our trustees, they have become more interested in pursuing an agenda then the impartial application of the law. Farming is very important to our Ohio economy. Please, consider buying local. We can help ourselves in a big way by doing so. The Farm Bureau support us because they believe us to be right. They saw this action by the trustees as a threat to all of our “right to farm” that needs to be corrected. They don't do this lightly nor often. We are grateful for their help.
We are a community asset. We have shown ourselves to be charitable and create economic gain for other community members. Our customers do not act the way Mark likes to describe them. I was in the pharmacy and was told by someone that he had been “given the finger” by our neighbor Dick just for bringing his grandson into the neighborhood to visit with a friend. Our customers are considerate persons who are looking to enjoy our local fair. I often walk to our parking lot to make sure that there is no noise. With the exception of an occasional peal of laughter, there isn't any. I know I could use more laughter in my life! We are honest, hardworking, family oriented (try working with both your Wife and Mother!) farmers and agripreneurs and we are proud of our growing farm and community. We are Ohio Proud Farmers who farm a total of over 2 acres of grapes and fruits.
I wish that we could do it with the support of our township trustees instead of having to spend time, energy, and money to defend ourselves. I am sorry that they say that the township has no money for roads, but they can spend lots to prosecute us. I would have thought that they would have been happy to have a legal foundation to keep us and help us thrive. I would have thought that they would want for our community increased property values and an influx of tourism dollars (we can pull from a pretty wide circle).
Our doors are always open. When our trustees are ready to really understand what our winery is (only 1 of 3 trustees has come to the winery to see what is really going on and the zoning inspector has never been there during business hours) instead of just believing the word of a few others that we are something that we are not (yes- there is a big difference between a winery and a bar), we are willing to talk together rationally to resolve our differences as a community. If you agree, please call the trustees to let them know. This is our township, let's make it great!

Kristofer Sperry
Winemaker/Owner
Myrddin Winery

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