Del Vino Vineyards, Cornhole: Huntington Planning Board Meeting

HUNTINGTON, NY — The Huntington Planning Board met Wednesday evening to discuss renovations to the Del Vino Vineyards, as well as three other site plan changes in the area.

The meeting got under way with a proposal from the vineyard owners to add parking and a new fence to the property, as well as to move their gaming area. The planning board focused the majority of its discussion on the subject of previous noise complaints that neighbors of the property had, and whether or not these noise complaints were a product of sound created by the gaming area.

This sparked a detailed conversation on what exactly the game of corn hole is, as multiple members of the board hadn't heard of it.

"The act of playing corn hole has no sound associated with it," said Chris Robinson, an engineer on the vineyard property who explained the proposed changes.

"Relative to the corn hole again, I understand that the game is quiet, played by quiet people. But are there any hours of restriction on the playing of the game?" asked board chair Paul Ehrilich.

Robinson answered firmly, "When it gets dark."

Meanwhile, conversation surrounding the extended parking area on the property and corresponding fence went relatively smoothly. Board members agreed the current parking lot was almost always busy, though one board member did request the new fence should be lined with sound-canceling material that would shield neighboring homes from noisy cars.

The site plan was voted through 5-1, with one member voting in opposition over concerns the property owners would seek more parking down the road should it be granted now.

After the vote was passed, a handful of audience members tried to interject thoughts on the Del Vino Vineyards. While it wasn't possible to distinguish exactly what they were saying from video of the meeting, it was clear they weren't happy with the extended parking space.

The meeting however was not open for public comment, and the board members did not allow them to start a dialogue. Most audience members left as the board moved onto the next part of the meeting agenda.

The wine vineyard has a history of controversy in the Huntington area. The long-delayed business finally opened in November 2018 despite opposition from town officials and residents. Northport-East Northport school officials also expressed concerns over the winery's close proximity to schools, including one just 350 feet away. Many residents were also worried about more drunken driving, according to Newsday.

The next item on the agenda dealt with the establishment of an additional building on the property at Depot Road and East 11th Street. Developers seek to expand the 2,000-square-foot building to 4,000 square feet and develop a parking lot for retail use.

The specifics of what the retail business would be weren't immediately known. The board decided to not reach a consensus at the time until more details were clear.

The third item on the agenda centered around the designation of an environmental consultant for the construction of the Creekside 2 Apartments at the South side of Creek Road. The location had previously been determined as having potential environmental concerns with the soil, and the board unanimously passed the approval of the consultant who had already met the town's criteria.

The final site plan was the removal of a residential structure by Potter Trucking on Broadway in Huntington Station. The plan proposes to remove the residential structure and construct an 1,800-square-foot addition to the existing industrial building.

The plan was unanimously passed by the board.

For the full agenda of the planning board meeting, click here.