Konzelmann Estate Winery faced further criticism from residents on Tuesday as its proposal to create a wedding ceremony space went before council. Concerns were raised about noise, traffic and pesticide exposure.
The winery, located at 1096 Lakeshore Rd., is seeking to rezone a portion of its northeast property to allow quiet wedding ceremonies for between 50 and 200 guests.
John Federici, a town planner who presented the application, said the rezoning would not involve any new construction.
“The applicant is not proposing to construct any permanent structures,” he said.
Zamima Khan, a planner at Quartek representing the winery, said Konzelmann plans to host 25 to 30 events each summer in the rezoned area.
Council received the information but did not vote on the proposal.
Neighbour Ed Werner, who sued the winery and the town last year over alleged bylaw violations, spoke against the plan. He said he has been dealing with issues involving the winery since the 1980s and claimed it has a history of disregarding rules.
“This move would legalize their illegal activities,” Werner said, warning it would create “endless conflict” with neighbours and set a troubling precedent.
“Everyone will want 30 events,” he said, noting that similar issues are emerging in agricultural neighbourhoods across the area.
Werner’s lawyer, Tom Richardson, also addressed council, alleging the property has “been used illegally since 1992.”
Donald Cole, a doctor and emeritus professor at the University of Toronto, raised concerns about potential health risks from pesticides in the surrounding vineyards. He warned of pesticide drift that could affect guests attending events.
“There’s multiple considerations regarding potential guest exposure,” said Cole.
Deputy Lord Mayor Erwin Wiens pushed back on that concern.
“Is there any evidence they (farmers) are not following the rules?” he asked. “This is hypothetical.”
Neighbour Daniel Curry said it was “premature” to consider a zoning bylaw change.
In an email to The Lake Report, Claudia Konzelmann, vice-president of Konzelmann Estate Winery, responded to concerns about crowd size, stating the 200-person figure would only apply if people were “right beside each other.”
“Our plan has always been to comfortably fit guests in the space,” she said. “Ensuring room to move freely and maintain a welcoming environment.”
She also criticized the use of photos during the presentation.
“Many, if not all, of the photos shown to illustrate crowd capacity were outdated, some dating back 10 to 15 years. In fact, one clearly displayed signage from 2015,” she wrote. “These images do not represent our current or proposed operations.”
Konzelmann addressed noise concerns as well, describing planned music as “light instrumental background music” and comparing the sound level to “that of a household air conditioner.”
Federici noted the nearest residential home is 180 metres from the proposed event area, with another dwelling 70 metres away.
Coun. Andrew Niven declared a conflict of interest at the start of the meeting, noting he is the director of marketing and hospitality at Konzelmann Estate Wineries.
daniel@niagaranow.com
