Landowner To Seek Variance Relief For New Winery In Wrightstown

WRIGHTSTOWN —Plans for Bucks County's newest winery are moving forward in Wrightstown Township.

At its June work session, the board of supervisors heard an update from the winery’s land use attorney and engineer who walked the board through a number of changes with the project first proposed by the Rienzi family last year for property at 580 Swamp Road.

Land use attorney Ed Murphy told the supervisors that last fall the Rienzi’s acquired an adjacent seven acre parcel located to the east of their property, which brings the site up to 25 acres.

That addition, he said, "provided a lot more flexibility in terms of planning and, equally important, will provide a second means of egress on Swamp Road. It also afforded us the opportunity to provide for additional parking and has reduced the number of required variances and zoning relief for the project.

“A lot of positives have resulted from the acquisition of the additional parcel," added Murphy. "It also enabled us to identify another location suitable for an onsite septic system. And it moves the main winery building further away from neighboring residences."

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 Road would be for egress only and would be limited to right turns only onto Swamp.

An existing house at 580 will be demolished and a permanent structure will be built in the southeast corner of the property to house production facilities, event space and a tasting room. Stormwater facilities are also planned for the site, according to the engineer.

The parking area, said Murphy, will be appropriately bermed and screened so no headlights will be visible on adjacent properties.

“I think it’s a positive project with no impact to the adjoining residences,” said Supervisor Charles Pogonowski after reviewing the latest plans. “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.”

The project will next go to the township’s zoning board where the winery will be seeking variances for the project. Once relief is obtained, the project will return to the planning commission and the board of supervisors for land development approval.

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.