Matthews Winery owner Cliff Otis told King County councilmembers that they've been working to find a balance.



“A legal pathway that both protects rural agriculture and allows small businesses like ours to flourish, providing jobs and a much needed tax revenue for the county,” Otis said.



“Restricting hours or minimizing retail space, which subsequently reduces our parking capacity, will strangle our business and many others,” said Carla Darr, an employee at Matthews Winery.



“This ordinance would shut us down, and considering the fact that this ordinance was made for Sammamish Valley and not for Vashon is so difficult to come to terms with,” said one person who attended Monday’s committee meeting.



Speaking out against the tasting rooms were farmers concerned about development



“We know what happens when we develop on the uphill side of rural farmland. That runoff comes down into our farmland,” said one farmer.



Another attendee said, “50 years from now, are your grandchildren going to be thankful for a few more wineries or for protecting this beautiful resource.”



After Monday’s meeting, anyone who wants to weigh in on the ordinance has 45 days to submit a comment.