TRAVERSE CITY — Protect the Peninsula said it supports the Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula’s request for clear standards for land uses in Peninsula Township and urged the wineries to commit to a public process and relief from a $50 million damages award.
The group said in a statement on Nov. 2 that it welcomes negotiations but argued that prior settlement talks happened behind closed doors and lacked input from neighbors.
PTP said any next steps should include a public presentation of proposed terms and a transparent path for negotiations that brings together winery owners, township officials, PTP and interested residents.
PTP said the wineries’ proposal touches on noise, events, food service, merchandise sales, tents, outdoor amenities and capacity limits across agricultural enterprises and would require new township ordinances.
The group said state law requires such ordinances be adopted through a public process.
According to PTP, the wineries collectively secured a $50 million damages award tied to past zoning provisions the court found vague and that the township has repealed.
The organization said the wineries indicated they might reduce an unspecified portion of that award in exchange for potential future profits from undisclosed new business activities after zoning terms are finalized.
PTP called that stance unreasonable and said standards for new business activities should not be negotiated without assurance of relief from the award.
The group said it remains ready to join any reasonable process to resolve the dispute.
They said it supports clear, balanced standards suited to the peninsula’s geography that preserve agricultural character and protect residential property rights.
If the path to resolution involves amending the zoning ordinance, PTP said the process must be public, transparent, and inclusive and the wineries must agree to surrender the $50 million award.
Read the full statement below:
