They’ve had enough.
Cutchogue residents, incensed after they said rowdy, drunken Vineyard 48 patrons used their apple trees as a bathroom, leaving toilet paper behind as a “gift” this weekend, came to the Southold Town board Tuesday night demanding answers.
Neigbhor Bill Shipman brought videos and photographs of the situation, which he said had once again gotten out of control.
Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley said that there had been several calls about Vineyard 48 over the weekend, including one concerning two females “urinating in a neighbor’s backyard,” and another call about a car parked in front of his house. “It was very crowded there on Saturday and we also issued several summonses to limousine drivers for blocking traffic at intersections by Vineyard 48 while trying to make U-turns,” Flatley said.
“This reminds me of the movie ‘Groundhog Day,'” Shipman said. “We’re waking up to the same stuff.”
Large, jitney sized buses making lefthand turns into a neighbor’s driveway, he said, “makes me think I’m back in 2013.”
Shipman said the only way the issues are addressed is if community members call to complain.
Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said the Southold police department has addressed the weekend’s complaints.
Describing this past weekend, Shipman said, of his neighbor, “Women were squatting and urinating in his backyard. One left a gift, rolled up toilet paper in his apple tree and on his lawn.”
Shipman also said a greater number of cars than allowed were parked at the winery over the weekend, approximately 60, with “pails” of sangria being sold.
Russell said the issues had only become problematic again over the past two weeks and action had been taken. “They are going beyond the scope and scale of what’s reasonable and now we’re taking action,” he said.
Shipman said the town’s giving tent permits during the spring opened the door for offenses. “You tried to be decent about it and they turned around and kicked you. You need to take a harder stand,” he said.
“I think we negotiated in good faith and I don’t think they have,” Russell said. “That’s something we will address legally.”
Town Attorney Martin Finnegan said all the complaints had been passed on to the State Liquor Authority. “Let it take its course,” he said. “I understand it’s frustrating but not a day goes by in my office that it’s not discussed. It’s being addressed,” he said.
Neighbor Joe Zuhoski said he was the man who’d had his “apple trees” used “as a bathroom. I’m just fed up. They are not playing by the rules.”
Russell said the town was frustrated, too. “We are fed up, too. We are back to the same old thing but we are constrained by a legal process.”
Joseph Zuhoksi Sr. added, “I’m an ex farmer. When I had cattle we fenced them in. These people are roaming around. This has got to be stopped. It’s going too far.”
In July, Shipman said he was incensed that Vineyard 48, a business that has sparked contention among residents for alleged loud music, parking issues, sex acts on the property and other complaints, continued to set up tents on its Route 48 parcel in Cutchogue, despite being ordered by authorities not to do so.
Shipman, who has complained to the town about loud music and other issues over the past two years, told the town board that, despite the fact that the tents were in violation of the business’s site plan, they had remained in place for three weeks.
Finnegan told the board at the time that code violations have been issued and would “in all likelihood, be reissued,” with town police and code enforcement officers out on the weekend to “make sure they are compliant with the pending court order that allows them operate in a limited capacity.”
The New York State Liquor Authority is in the process of an appeal, Finnegan added; documentation has been requested from code enforcement and the police department.
A New York State Supreme Court justice on Dec. 30 issued a stay of the SLA’s revocation of the winery’s liquor license, allowing Vineyard 48 to continue to conduct business pending the winery’s appeal of the revocation order, issued Dec. 14.
The judge told Vineyard 48 it could engage in business such as grape pruning, wine bottling, manufacturing, retail sales and wine tastings — but no parties, and no music, according to Flatley.
Shipman said despite being ordered not to play music, Vineyard 48 still advertised events with Friday night “mellow” music and live acoustic performances.
Shipman says Vineyard 48’s operations have greatly impacted his quality of life, and the cost of litigation is borne by town taxpayers.
Pat Moore, attorney for Vineyard 48, could not be reached for comment.
