'Stunned': Vote bans wine sales at Austin Avenue Farmers Market

When the Wichita Falls City Council voted down a request to allow wine sales at the Farmers Market at 807 Austin Avenue, it not only stunned the president of the Farmers Market Association but spurred him into action.

"Stunned. Absolutely stunned," Scott Poenitzsch said Wednesday.

The City Council was asked to grant a variance from an ordinance that bans alcohol sales within 300 feet of a church.

The variance was requested by Onelife Community Church, which leases the Austin Street property to the Farmers Market. Another church within the 300 feet boundary also sent a letter in support of the variance.

It would have allowed vineyard operators to sell their wine for off-premises consumption.

Poenitzsch, who operates Horseshoe Bend Cellars Vineyards and Winery, said he had been assured by the city staff everything was in order.

"Based on past precedent, it should have gone through successfully," he said, referring to a variance granted to a square dance hall within the 300-foot boundary. "I'm extremely disappointed."

But six members of the City Council voted against the variance Tuesday with Councilor Michael Smith abstaining.

"It could produce a slippery slope in the sense that we could start opening alcohol sales," Mayor Stephen Santellana said before voting against the variance. "Downtown is riddled with a lot of churches. This might erode the religious foundation of the downtown area."

Poenitzsch called the mayor's remarks "insane."

He said the vote "clearly shows the Council is not in favor of supporting local businesses and not willing to continue growing the farmers market opportunities for customers. They are short-sighted and narrow-visioned."

He said his group had worked with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

"They are as surprised as I am," he said.

Poenitzch said the farmers association had developed a contingency plan but wouldn't reveal what it is. He also hinted of political action.

"This action pushes me really hard into doing something and aligning myself with other people who are interested in some of the vacancies that are coming up for City Council," he said

The next City Council election is in November.

The vote was not the first skirmish between the Farmers Market Association and the city. Many members of the association voted to leave a city-owned location on Ohio Avenue when the city and Downtown Wichita Falls Development raised rent.

Wine sales are permitted at the city-owned market, which has hosted wine festivals in the past.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Council vote bans wine sales at Farmers' Market