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Residents Urge Cuts to 132‑Seat Clinton Vineyards Farm‑Restaurant Over Traffic and Safety Fears
Summary
Neighbors at a Planning Board public hearing said a proposed 132‑seat farm restaurant at Clinton Vineyards would overwhelm narrow local roads and raised questions about ag‑use thresholds, traffic‑study methods and enforcement; the board left the hearing open and asked for expanded traffic scenarios and a highway superintendent briefing.
Clinton — Neighbors pressing the Planning Board on a proposal to expand Clinton Vineyards into a farm restaurant told the board on Wednesday night that a 132‑seat operation and occasional weddings would overwhelm narrow, rural roads and pose a liability risk to the town.
The application’s applicant (speaker identified in the hearing record as Speaker 2) described proposed hours of operation (Wednesdays–Sundays, midday through early evening), a maximum seasonal capacity of 132 patrons (about 90 in winter) and on‑site sparkling wine production. The applicant said current production is “1,200 cases right now” and that they expect to grow to “about 4,500 to 5,000.” The applicant also said the business uses reservations and that “we can reduce the seats” if needed, suggesting “80 is a possibility.”
Why it matters: Residents said the combination of occasional concentrated events, weekend visitation and narrow local roads would change the character and safety of the area. Multiple speakers described near misses involving farm equipment, trucks…
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