Lyme — About 150 residents filled the gymnasium of the Lyme Consolidated School for a public hearing Monday on Sunset Hill Vineyard's proposal to allow weekend wine tastings by appointment only.

The Planning and Zoning Commission hearing on the proposal, which has generated interest from residents both in support and against the application, continued late into the evening.

The hearing started with a presentation from the applicants, Matt and Sal Caruso of Sunset Hill Vineyard, who are seeking a special permit for the family-run winery at 5 Ely's Ferry Road.  The Carusos bought the farm, located within a rural RU-80 zone, in 1974 and began the vineyard in 2007.

The proposal is to allow appointment-only wine tastings from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, as well as noon to 4 p.m. on some Sundays, which would act as rain dates, from May to October.

Matt Caruso outlined to the commission that the tastings would be held on the deck overlooking the vineyard, which has a maximum capacity of eight people. He said the winery would continue to bottle its wine in the existing wine cellar.

In response to questions from the commission, Caruso said he expects the tastings would each last about half hour, but he would schedule "buffer space" between appointments. He would expect anywhere from one to 50 people over the course of one day.

Caruso said the state limits the winery to pour four half-ounce glasses of wine for a customer. A customer would also be able to request a measured four-ounce glass of wine.

Caruso told the commission he wants to keep the property as a "small, hands-on, family boutique vineyard."

The winery currently has a capacity to produce 250 to 350 cases of wine per year. If the winery imports grapes from local vineyards or Hartford in the future, Caruso would have the capacity to produce about 800 to 1,000 cases.

According to the presentation, the proposed 12-space parking area for the vineyard can be accessed from an existing stone driveway off Ely's Ferry Road.

Marc Nadeau, a real estate appraiser on behalf of the applicant, presented three case studies, including one on the town of North Stonington, that he said showed there is a "positive trend" in property values for properties close to vineyards.

Joan Nichols, the director of member relations and community outreach for the Connecticut Farm Bureau Association, a private nonprofit, said that small farms are growing in the state but can only survive and thrive in the tough regulatory environment by having a niche product and selling directly to consumers.

As the public comment portion of the meeting began, John Bennett, a lawyer representing the owners of two neighboring properties, argued that the town's zoning laws do not allow the sale of alcoholic beverages in a residential zone.

Citing case law, he also said the commission could not make up regulations for the winery "on an ad-hoc basis."

Chairman David Tiffany said that the town has been operating under regulations, which essentially allow an applicant to go before the commission if a use is not specifically permitted or prohibited under the town's zoning laws.

The commission also discussed how the Connecticut Farm Winery Act considers a winery to be part of agriculture.

Residents began to offer their opinions late Monday evening, and the discussion was ongoing as of press time.

At the meeting, Tiffany also read aloud the names of about 40 residents who had sent in letters to the commission.

k.drelich@theday.com

Twitter: @KimberlyDrelich