(PD) - The Sonoma County Vintners trade group, looking to diffuse the pitched debate over the scope and impact of winery events, has a new plan it hopes will help wineries prevent complaints from neighbors and the surrounding community.

The new initiative will codify best practices for its members and hire someone specifically to conduct outreach to businesses and community leaders.

The announcement reflects the realization that the industry needs to be more proactive in response to community activists, who have complained that an influx of winery events has brought traffic and noise that have hampered their quality of life, said Jean Arnold-Sessions, executive director for the vintners, which has more than 250 wine business members. The county has an estimated 550 licensed wineries, from large corporate facilities to virtual ones.

“We have been lacking a voice of communication out to the community,” Arnold-Sessions said. “We really work hard to do the right thing and try to find common ground.”

The group intends to publish a “best practices” booklet and hold seminars for its members covering such topics as use permits, event management, parking and noise restrictions and septic permits.

The items can range from the technical to the simple, such as having a contact number on a winery’s website during an event so that a staff member can be reached immediately if problems arise, Sessions said.

The new hire will work with wineries on their events and permit applications as well as act as liaison with the county’s Permit and Resource Management Department, the Board of Supervisors and community groups to help avoid potential problems.