Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Entertainment License topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves conditional entertainment license for Sekonic Vineyards after lengthy public comment
Summary
The Town Council approved an entertainment license for Dionysus Acquisitions LLC (Sekonic Vineyards) for a limited set of daytime events, making approval contingent on Agricultural Conservancy Trust review and town code noise‑mitigation conditions and scheduling a status review after the first event.
The Little Compton Town Council approved a conditional entertainment license for Dionysus Acquisitions LLC, which does business as Sekonic Vineyards, allowing a trial series of daytime agritourism events that include mild acoustic music and harvest demonstrations.
The application sought permission for multiple Saturday events with live acoustic music during daytime hours. Council members explicitly made approval contingent upon the Agricultural Conservancy Trust (referred to in discussion as the Ag Trust or LCACT) having an opportunity to review and vote; the motion also referenced Town Code Chapter 6.7.4 (noise‑mitigation provisions) and required that the council revisit the license if problems arise after the first event. Council added a requirement that the solicitor provide a status update (the council anticipated reviewing the item at a subsequent meeting if issues were reported).
Neighbors and other residents spoke at length. Natalie Elias urged caution and noted local wildlife habitat, saying, “We have bald eagles, we have ospreys,” and called for protective measures. Amy Berry and others said they were skeptical based on past experience with previous vineyard managers and asked the council to consider stricter conditions — including limiting or prohibiting amplification for the trial events. Vineyard representatives said the proposed events would be muted, held in a courtyard surrounded by buildings, and limited to small acoustic acts; they emphasized willingness to accept conditions and to stop music if the community registers justified complaints.
Council members debated procedural points (dates, contingency language) and explicitly limited this license term to the current season; applicants will need to reapply for any future season. The motion as amended approved the license subject to the solicitor’s recommended conditions, compliance with the cited sections of the town code, the Ag Trust’s approval, and a status review after the first event.
Next steps: The Ag Trust must complete its review; if the first event generates justified complaints or breaches the conditions, the council may revoke the remaining events or impose further conditions when it reconvenes for the scheduled status update.
