A proposed café permit for a vineyard located on a historic farm in Middlebury has sparked concern among local residents, who fear it could lead to disruptive outdoor events in a traditionally quiet and rural area. Tranquillity Vineyard & Winery has requested a Connecticut craft café liquor license, prompting some property owners to actively campaign for the state Liquor Control Commission to deny the application. Additionally, a local nonprofit organization, Save Historic Middlebury, is urging officials to reject the initiative, warning of potential damage to what they describe as one of Connecticut’s most treasured landscapes.
On its website, the organization emphasizes that Tranquility Farm, a site of significant historical importance in both Middlebury and the state of Connecticut, is at risk of losing its historical value and protected vistas due to attempted overdevelopment by its new owner. Efforts to reach Dean Yimoyines, the owner, for comment have been unsuccessful.
The controversy largely stems from the tension between standard zoning regulations, which often impose strict controls on business operations, and broader state and town objectives to support the preservation of agricultural land. Middlebury’s zoning laws do not restrict farming activities in residential zones. Meanwhile, state policies encouraging agritourism promote farms selling beer, wine, and other products they produce. The state’s liquor control commission is scheduled to review the café permit request this spring, while Middlebury’s planning and zoning commission plans a public hearing on June 5 to discuss Tranquillity’s proposal to construct a gravel parking lot for over 90 vehicles.
The dispute has led to a heated exchange between Dean Yimoyines’ attorney, David Sherwood, and Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Terry Smith. Sherwood has stated that Tranquillity is solely seeking approval for a soil erosion plan related to the parking lot and contends that no site plan or public hearing is required under Middlebury’s regulations. However, Smith has repeatedly demanded further details about Tranquillity’s intentions post-parking lot construction and has asserted his authority to convene a hearing.
Smith has expressed frustration over the lack of a site plan, stating, “I’ve been asking for a site plan for over a year and I’ve just been stonewalled. I want it by next month.” When Sherwood argued that Tranquillity isn’t obligated to submit one, a sharp exchange ensued regarding Smith’s authority to demand such information. Smith concluded by stating, “I want details including buffers. If we don’t get it, I’m not approving this. I’ll tell you right now.”
Sherwood maintains that regulations allow hearings only in certain cases, which do not include Tranquillity’s soil erosion proposal, and expressed intent to contest the commission’s decision to hold a hearing. Smith, however, plans to proceed with the hearing, inviting public opinion on June 5.
Another commissioner inquired about activities conducted at the winery over the past year, to which Sherwood responded that he was unaware, as he does not reside in Middlebury. When reminded of his representation of the vineyard, Sherwood agreed to provide information at the June meeting regarding the winery’s activities.
Preservationists argue that Tranquillity’s expansion plans threaten the unspoiled views in the area. The property, protected by a conservation easement since 1986 to preserve its agricultural history and scenic views, is considered one of Middlebury’s most important historical assets. The 300-acre site, overlooking Lake Quassapaug, was designed by Charles Eliot, a notable protégé of Frederick Law Olmsted, the renowned landscape architect of New York’s Central Park. Preservationists claim the expansion would violate the terms of the conservation easement held by the local historical society.
