Southold Farm + Cellar Facing Possible Liquor License Revocation, Called for SLA Hearing

NORTH FORK, NY - It’s yet another hurdle for the owners of Southold Farm + Cellar, who received notice recently that they must appear before the New York State Liquor Authority at a hearing to determine whether their liquor license will be revoked or canceled.

“”We were truly shocked and dismayed to hear this news, but look forward to clearing up any errors on our part or misinformation from outside sources regarding our farm operation,” Regan Meador, who owns Southold Farm + Cellar with his wife Carey, said.

The State of New York’s Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control sent the Meadors a notice on February 10, stating that they had to appear at a hearing on March 9 regarding possible revocation of the couple’s liquor license.

According to the notice, the “licensee submitted a false material statement or suppressed information concerning a permit for the tasting room: all cause for revocation, cancellation or suspension of the license.”

In addition, the notice states that the licensee violated New York State Liquor Authority rules ”in that it did not conform with all applicable building codes, and/or fire, health, safety and governmental regulations (no site plan approval)“, also cause for revocation.

Third, the notice states that ”the licensee submitted a false material or statement or suppressed information concerning the site plan approval for winery building.” The SLA states that the licensees also “failed to conform with all representations set forth in the application, or approved amendments therein, for the on-premises license under which such license was applied for and issued (2nd winery structure on property).

Finally, the notice states that “the licensee submitted a false material statement or suppressed information concerning a valid certificate of occupancy for tasting room.”

When asked what prompted the SLA’s notice, Meador said he had been told that someone filed a complaint with the SLA.

Pending ZBA’s decision

The Meadors said their application is still before the Southold Town zoning board of appeals, with an extension granted until March, when a decision is expected.

The Meadors had their tasting room shut down last year by Southold Town code enforcement because they opened without necessary approvals, the town said.

The winery had a certificate of occupancy for a single family dwelling and an open permit for a farm stand, according to Michael Verity, Southold’s chief building inspector, who sent out code enforcement to their business.

“They do not have the certificates to do what they’re doing or approval from other agencies,” Verity said.

The enforcement went out after receiving “multiple complaints” in the past, according to Verity.

According to a post on the Facebook page, the winery shut down after the Southold Town officials asked them to “cease all operations or face fines and/or jail time.”

The winery opened in 2014 after the family purchased the land in 2012.

“We had sought guidance with the town and have been completely upfront with what we intended to do,” a Facebook post on the Southold Farm + Cellar page read. “We have been working with the town for over a year to correct an earlier error and have now found ourselves mired in grey areas, far past our simple understanding of town code.”

According to Verity, the town asked for compliance and made a verbal request for the couple to shut down.

The Meadors initially received a notice of disapproval for a building permit for construction of an agricultural production building at less than the code minimum required setback of 100 feet from a major road, according to the ZBA.

“Rather than purchasing additional land and building beautiful facilities that could host large crowds and weddings, we would save ourselves the overhead, stay small, rely on word of mouth and just farm and sell our product, nothing more, nothing less,” the family wrote on the Facebook page.

The winery continued to sell wine on their website even when closed.

Open for business

The business later reopened and faced no pushback due to a “loophole” in the code that says if an application is before the ZBA, no enforcement action can be taken, town officials said.

The Meadors put a notice on their Facebook page in September, stating that they were open for business.

“After spending the last two months working with various agencies, organizations and the Town of Southold, we took the proactive steps this week to mitigate the major issues facing our property and our operation. Now, with only one issue facing the zoning board and our every intention to move forward quickly and completely with the planning department we have decided to re-open our doors. In doing so we will not only be able to get back to speaking with each of you about our wines — including two new ones, stay tuned — but also be able to generate the revenue necessary to keep us afloat and pay for the upcoming harvest, our first and the first for a couple varieties ever on the North Fork. The last few months have been a great education for us and as we’ve said before, we look forward to being an asset to this town,” the wrote.

The Meadors have been before the zoning board of appeals for months, seeking variances.

Pat Moore, attorney for the Meadors, has protested the number of adjournments and said the lengthy process had dealt a financial blow to the couple.

The Meadors have asked the ZBA to approve two variances, one for front yard setback of the new building, second for bulk schedule because the town won’t allow a parcel of land they purchased to be counted towards the total acreage. The parcels were merged in September and are now a single 23.7 acre property. The second variance is a determination that was made by the town in November.

At each hearing, a strong showing of support has come from friends and neighbors who have rallied to the Meadors’ defense, stating that their small winery is just the kind of family business Southold Town should be promoting.

A few have expressed reservations about the business, but the overwhelming majority of residents who’ve turned out at past hearings voiced strong solidarity with the Meadors.

Regan Meador has spoken passionately about how he has no desire to turn his operation into a Vineyard 48 type of affair, and has promised that no large crowds or buses would ever be allowed on-site. Instead, he is looking toward a boutique approach, much like what’s found in Europe.

The Meadors’ attorney Pat Moore did not immediately return a request for comment.

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