Can Newtown bend the definition of a winery

NEWTOWN — An Albanian couple’s vison for their newly opened vineyard that combines winemaking with yoga meditations, private celebrations and art installations is drawing scrutiny in a residential neighborhood outside Sandy Hook. “It’s controversial because it’s in a residential zone, but I think it is something we can look at,” said George Benson, Newtown’s planning director, during a public hearing about the winery last week. “I think there’s a lot that can be pared down.” Members of the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission agreed that the owners of Aquila’s Nest Vineyards on Pole Bridge Road had the entrepreneurial spirit Newtown wanted to encourage, but not if it ruined the quality of life for homeowners on Lake Zoar’s west shore.