YAMHILL COUNTY COMMISSION SLIGHTS ECONOMIC PROGRESS IN ALLOWING HOTEL ON VINEYARD LAND
(McMinnville, OR) - Amidst objections from a wide range of community and wine industry members, today the Yamhill County Board of Commissioners approved a proposed hotel on prime vineyard land by developer David Kahn. The Vintners' Coalition for Economic Progress has voiced staunch opposition to the threat posed to the area's economy by the precedent of an urban hotel located on vineyard land rather than within one of the county's towns.
The Vintners' Coalition has expressed concern that the growth of an industry with a $1.42 billion dollar statewide economic impact, and centered in Yamhill County, will be undermined by poorly planned development of agricultural lands. The property targeted for development has been recognized as being prime vineyard land by knowledgeable winegrowers and is some of the last prime plantable grape land left in the prestigious Dundee Hills area.
"These hillside vineyard sites are unique resources which are the source of tremendous prestige and economic payback for our region. Taking this site out of agriculture sets a foolhardy precedent for our local economy," said David Adelsheim of Adelsheim Vineyard. Patricia Dudley of Bethel Heights Vineyard adds, "Agriculture is still viable in the Willamette Valley, unlike most other places in the developed world. As Oregon farmers embrace the trend to higher value and value-added agriculture, we are preserving a real trump card for Oregon in the global economy. Our farmland is simply too valuable to be used for any other purpose."
Meanwhile, the dangerous precedent of allowing urban commercial activities in the agricultural zone is being shown unnecessary elsewhere in Yamhill County. Springbrook Properties is developing a luxury hotel in Newberg, demonstrating confidence that niche hotels can successfully operate in the established communities of Oregon's wine country.
"The idea of a destination resort in wine country may be a romantic idea, but the reality of wasting prime vineyard land is unacceptable," said Susan Sokol Blosser of Sokol Blosser Winery. "A hotel like this belongs in one of Yamhill County's lovely towns, with easy access to the surrounding wine country. Our county deserves that kind of win-win solution."
Adelsheim, Dudley, and Sokol Blosser are joined in their support of sustainable economic development by over 20 other wine and grape producers from around the region. The Vintners' Coalition for Economic Progress is comprised of a wide spectrum of vintners ranging from some of the largest wineries in the state (Willamette Valley Vineyards) to some of the smallest (Dominio IV), and from some of the most established names (Ponzi Vineyards) to some of the rising stars (Winter's Hill Vineyard).
