This summer Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyard built a sound stage, placed high-intensity stadium lights and created over-flow parking lots on agricultural conservation land for the purpose of hosting a concert series sponsored by Alex & Ani Jewelry. These loud, overly lit and widely promoted events attract hundreds of cars and thousands of people to town every week on normally tranquil Thursday nights and Sunday afternoons.

These events threaten the quiet enjoyment and value of neighboring homes, the agricultural heritage of the Vineyard itself, and the rural character Little Compton’s residents have fought hard to protect.

We support the Vineyard’s efforts to grow grapes, make wines, and operate a business. We support the Vineyard’s need to promote their products through food and low-impact events. However, Alex & Ani is a for- profit, internationally renowned lifestyle brand, and their concert series establishes an entirely new and perilous precedent for this small town.

We support farmers’ rights to farm their land, however, we believe what is happening at the Vineyard is not farming and falls outside the State’s definition of agriculture. We believe these events exceed the letter, spirit and precedent embodied in the town’s already generous Winery ordinance. And we believe the placement of infrastructure needed to host these events violate the conservation deeds the Vineyard is party to.

Please join us in taking a stand against the for-profit sponsorship of social events in town. Please help us protect the rural character of Little Compton. Demand that our Town Council and AgTrust take action now.

Town Council meeting, Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 7pm in Town Hall

AgTrust meeting on September 23, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. in Town Hall.