Urgent! Royal Oaks Vineyard & Winery / North Cornwall Township Cease & Desist Order

Please see below for the Great News:

Royal Oaks Vineyard and Winery is a local, family-run, agricultural business. The business has developed over the past eight years through a lot of blood, sweat and tears.

Born from a desire to enrich the Lebanon County with an artistic, creative and inspiring place to celebrate life. We have all worked very hard and continue to encourage unique, culturally rich experiences in an area that has been traditionally accused of "having nothing to do." We pride ourselves on lending a family friendly, relaxing atmosphere, where our guests can enjoy an afternoon or evening with family and friends, both new and old.

North Cornwall Township has been very supportive and encouraging of our project, from the very beginning. They have been nothing short of a pleasure to work with; and we have appreciated their support. However, recently, the township has been placed in the difficult position of having to address an unknown complaint from an unnamed neighbor and has decided to challenge all aspects of our business.

We have been ordered to cease & desist playing live or recorded music both inside and outside of our tasting room, paint & sip, terrarium parties, the presence of food trucks, or caterers, private or public gatherings and sales of any products other than the wine made from the grapes grown on our property including gift cards, locally produced products including beer, soaps, and handcrafted items which have all been declared to be a nuisance to the township. Many of our closest neighbors have shown their support through kind words of encouragement and their patronage, for which we are very grateful.

It is our stance that we do not wish to disturb or disrupt any of our neighbors. We feel everyone has the right to the peaceful, quiet enjoyment of his or her life. This is the same policy that we are trying to encourage on our property. We have appealed North Cornwall Township's decision to challenge every aspect of our business which they must prove at a hearing on: October 18th @ 6:30pm North Cornwall Township Building 320 S. 18th Street Lebanon, PA 17042

We are asking for your support. We would like to demonstrate that our vision of being an asset to our community is a valid one, and emphasize our commitment to providing "A Beautiful Place to Celebrate Life" in Lebanon County. We are asking anyone who has visited and believe that we are an asset and not a nuisance to this township to please acknowledge and show your support by attending the meeting, sending us comments on our Facebook page, via email to becky@royaloaksvineyardandwinery.com or mail to: Royal Oaks Vineyard & Winery 399 Royal Road Lebanon, PA. 17042

Please sign this petition in support of our efforts. If you have not yet been a guest at our winery, we encourage you to stop by and experience what we have to offer. We have worked for many years to come to this point and have great plans for the future. Thank you for taking the time to make your voice heard.

We would like to thank everyone for their support and encouragement. Many of you came out tonight to make your voice heard in support of our efforts and we greatly appreciate your belief in what we are trying to accomplish. Together, the North Cornwall Township leadership and Royal Oaks Vineyard & Winery have agreed to continue the hearing until November 15th, 2017 in hopes of opening a discussion and coming to a mutual agreement before such date. In light of this evenings discussions, we would like to make our position on several points perfectly clear: 1. Our intentions are not and never were to embarrass or point blame at any particular neighbor (or neighbors) who may have legitimate questions and concerns about our presence. We also share in many of the concerns that have recently been expressed and hold no ill will towards anyone for expressing their opinion. 2. We never intended to create a confrontational atmosphere with the North Cornwall Township Supervisors. We intentionally stated that they were put in a position to address concerns due to said complaint of which they were not privileged to reveal the source. 3. The petition was simply a way to offer our friends, neighbors, guests and supporters a medium to express to the North Cornwall Township Supervisors what our presence in this community meant to them. In no way was it intended to be considered a form of intimidation. 4. We were, are and will remain open, willing and eager to address any and all issues that any of our neighbors have with anything that we do. Royal Oaks Vineyard & Winery remains committed to being an asset to this community. To support and promote Lebanon County businesses to the many tourists who visit our winery. To continue supporting local charities, artists and musicians who enrich our community and give us all reason to celebrate life. We are not in a battle with North Cornwall Township and never intended to portray that we were. As we have stated many times before, this township has bent over backwards and had been very supportive of the winery from the very beginning. We are looking forward to regaining that support and having a mutual understanding in the near future. Whether you are in support of our efforts or not, please take advantage of this time to discuss your support or your concerns with the township officials in order for them to open a discussion and make an educated decision for the future of this beautiful township. God bless us all.

UPDATE 11/14/17:

It's been almost a month since our last update.  We were really hoping to have some great news by now. Unfortunately, after every effort was made to have a discussion with the North Cornwall Township Supervisors, we were informed by their counsel "they don't believe it would be a productive meeting" and declined our offer to meet with them.  During this time, we have exhausted all of our resources on attorney's fees. We will be self-representing our business during the continued hearing. The hearing will proceed as scheduled. Your support is greatly appreciated and your voices will get to be heard.Please join us Wednesday November 15^th, 6:30pm at the Neversink Fire Company 19^th & Walnut St's. Lebanon.

Last minute plea for support. The third cease and desist order appeal hearing was held 1/10/18. The attorneys for North Cornwall Township made it clear that they have and will continue to object to every pertinent exhibit and the testimony of witness's that Royal Oaks Vineyard & Winery attempts to enter into record. Please support our rights at what will hopefully be the final hearing this Wednesday, 1/17/18 at 6pm. North Cornwall Township Building 320 S. 18th St. Lebanon. 717.273.9200