Property Owners Seeking Zoning Nod For New Winery In Wrightstown

WRIGHTSTOWN, PA — The Wrightstown Zoning Hearing Board will consider an appeal this week that would allow a proposed winery to put down roots in the township.

Angela J. Banket Rienzi and Armando D. Rienzi are scheduled to appear before the zoning board on Wednesday, Nov. 2 where they will be seeking about a half a dozen variances.

The Rienzi’s are proposing to establish a winery on 25 acres at 580 and 550 Swamp Road in the township’s Conservation Management Zoning District where they plan to grow and cultivate grapes, produce and sell wine and host special events.

They will be seeking relief to connect and widen existing driveways; to keep the existing driveway bridges at 15 and 13 feet in width; to maintain one loading berth where three would be required; and to permit the property to maintain 2.15 acres of wine producing crops, where properties used
for an H-17 public and retail use accessory to a winery or vineyard are required to maintain a minimum five acres of wine producing crops.

They will also be seeking relief to permit 11,123 square feet of retail, event and tasting room space where a maximum 3,000 square feet of floor area is permitted on a lot containing more than 10 acres; to permit an impervious surface ratio of 13 percent where a maximum five percent coverage is permitted; and to permit a G-3 wholesale business, wholesale storage and warehousing use as an accessory use on the property.

Last fall the Rienzi’s acquired an adjacent seven acre parcel located to the south of their property bringing the site up to 25 acres.

That addition provided them with a second means of ingress into the site, provides additional space for parking and reduces the number of required variances for the project.

According to the winery’s engineer, the gated entrance at 580 Swamp Road would provide for both ingress and egress to the winery while the secondary access at 550 Swamp would be for ingress only.

The winery will be anchored by a permanent structure that will be built in the southeast corner of the property and house production, event space and a tasting room. Stormwater facilities are also planned for the site, according to the engineer.

“I think it’s a positive project with no impact to the adjoining residences,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Charles Pogonowski in July. “It’s positive in that the events facility is indoors rather than outdoors. That should minimize any impacts on the neighborhood in terms of noise and sound.

“We’re moving in a real good direction with this project,” he said. “I’m to the point where I’d like to see you guys put shovel to the ground.”

Joseph Rienzi, who is a viticulturist at Karamoor Estate Vineyard & Winery in Fort Washington, will be running the vineyard while Angela and Armando Rienzi will be actively involved as principals.