Moon Dancer Vineyards & Winery is poised to reopen this weekend following a court order rescinding an earlier ruling that closed the 50-acre winery and event venue overlooking the Susquehanna River in Lower Windsor Township, York County.
The winery shut down June 9 after it lost a six-year land-use battle with neighbors who claim the business violated restrictive covenants affecting usage of the property.
But a new order Tuesday from York County Judge Clyde Vedder suspended the closure while the court weighs a motion from Moon Dancer to reconsider the case.
“We’re obviously very pleased,” Moon Dancer owner Jim Miller said in an interview yesterday.
Efforts to reach an attorney for the neighbors for comment on the ruling were not successful.
Why is this happening: The conflict stems from claims by neighbors Matthew Balsavage and Amanda Perko that Moon Dancer’s operations exceed deed restrictions on business activities in their section of Lauxmont Farms, a development of high-end homes above the river.
Their lawsuit was filed in 2018.
In a filing last week, the winery said its operations had been approved under township zoning decisions and are protected as an agricultural operation in land zoned for agriculture.
Moon Dancer’s filing also alleges its previous attorney did not properly keep Miller up to speed on the case as it proceeded. Efforts to reach the attorney have not been successful.
What’s next: The case continues in York County court.
Vedder’s order says the court will reconsider its May 20 decision closing the winery.
The winery, in business since 2004, is planning to reopen Friday, June 21, with live music scheduled through the weekend.
