Wineries Sue Peninsula Township, Seek Halt to Enforcement Actions
Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula, Bonobo Winery and Bowers Harbor Vineyards filed a federal complaint on December 1 asserting Peninsula Township is refusing to comply with a July federal judgment that awarded the wineries nearly $50 million and affirmed event rights under previously issued permits. The filing seeks to stop further enforcement of township restrictions, challenges a noise ordinance as unconstitutionally vague, and raises immediate questions for local events, tourism and municipal governance.
Three Old Mission Peninsula wineries filed a new complaint in U.S. District Court on December 1, escalating a dispute with Peninsula Township over event permits, noise rules and land use enforcement. The complaint alleges the township has continued to enforce restrictions that a federal judgment issued in July struck down, and that township officials have delayed meaningful settlement talks while sending enforcement notices, including a Nov. 21 cease and desist letter to Bonobo Winery.
Plaintiffs are Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula, Bonobo Winery and Bowers Harbor Vineyards. The July federal judgment awarded the wineries nearly fifty million dollars and affirmed their rights to host events under permits the wineries contend were lawfully issued. In the new filing the wineries ask the court for injunctive relief to stop further enforcement actions, a declaratory judgment that the township noise ordinance is unconstitutionally vague, recovery of attorneys fees and other relief tied to continued municipal enforcement.
Peninsula Township issued a public statement saying township officials intend to follow administrative process and ensure fair enforcement of ordinances, and that they will review and respond through legal counsel. The township response frames the matter as an ongoing administrative and legal process, while the wineries describe persistent enforcement that undermines the federal ruling and their ability to operate event businesses.
The dispute carries tangible implications for Grand Traverse County. Wineries on Old Mission Peninsula host weddings, concerts and tastings that draw visitors, support local jobs and generate tax revenue. Continued uncertainty over event permits and enforcement could disrupt scheduled events, affect seasonal employment and influence tourism patterns that local businesses depend on. The potential financial exposure for the township and its insurers is also significant, given the magnitude of the award affirmed in July.
The filing marks the latest chapter in a long running conflict over how local ordinances govern agricultural tourism and neighborhood impacts. Court action, settlement negotiations and township administrative decisions will determine whether the federal judgment yields practical relief for the wineries and clarify how municipalities may regulate events while respecting constitutional limits. Residents and stakeholders will likely see related developments in coming weeks at court hearings and township sessions.
