Billy Wilcoxson’s bid to sell prepared foods and host wine tasting at his Stanly Lane Marketplace is stirring up opposition from a bevy of powerful Napa Valley interest groups.

The Napa County Farm Bureau, the Sierra Club, two Napa County supervisors and other county leaders oppose his bid to expand the business on his four-acre property in the agricultural preserve.

Wilcoxson has placed Measure K on the June ballot, seeking the ability to expand his business. The marketplace is in the county’s agricultural preserve, where a vote of the people is required for a zoning change.

“This is a case of asking for something, doing something more than was authorized, and then asking for more,” according to an argument against Wilcoxson’s Measure K initiative on the Feb. 5 ballot signed by the Sierra Club and the Farm Bureau. “Wouldn’t it be great if every property owner could do as they wished with their property? Maybe so, but we wouldn’t have an Ag Preserve — we’d likely have strip commercial malls and tract housing, like San Jose.”

The marketplace is best-known for its pumpkin patch and Christmas tree lot just off Highway 121 at the crossroads of Golden Gate Drive and Stanly Lane. In 1996, voters passed Measure Z, which approved the patch for use as a produce stand, allowing Wilcoxson to sell a variety of agricultural products. Wilcoxson now sells pre-made food, antiques, furniture made from wine barrels and more.

According to the argument Wilcoxson prepared for the voter’s pamphlet Napa County residents are soon to get in the mail, Measure K would expand the allowable practices of the produce stand to include wine tasting, barbecue and a delicatessen where food is prepared on the premises.

“I am not asking for much, no additional buildings, no add-ons, just a way to continue to make a living which allows me to do what I love to do, and what has become a family tradition for a lot of Napa families over the past 20 years,” his argument reads.

In a May 2007 interview, Wilcoxson said the ability to cook food and prepare made-to-order sandwiches would boost his business during lean times.

But the centerpiece of his Measure K request — to have wine tasting on a property situated on a heavily-traveled tourist route and next to one of the busiest intersections in Napa — is what is drawing the most concern from his opponents.

“The Farm Bureau is always concerned when there is an agricultural-related commercial expansion on an agriculture parcel,” Sandy Elles, executive director of the Farm Bureau said. She said Wilcoxson is violating his current zoning agreement by selling antiques.

The county’s independent analysis of Measure K questions whether Wilcoxson is indeed following his current zoning restrictions.

According to the county report, fruits, vegetables and Christmas trees are allowed for sale as well as “items related thereof.”

“In practice, the definition of ‘items related thereof’ and therefore the list of what products can be sold on the site, has been a matter of some discussion between the county planning department and the property owner,” the report states.

In an attachment, the list of agreed-upon merchandise includes olive oil, pasta, wine and beer, but it forbids Wilcoxson from having indoor seating for food or drink and books unrelated to agriculture, cooking or eating. Antiques aren’t mentioned.

Wilcoxson has at least one high-profile supporter in the county, Supervisor Bill Dodd.

“It’s not going to change the character of the neighborhood, it’s not going to change anything,” Dodd said of Measure K. “More than likely if he would’ve asked for that with the original initiative it would’ve passed. ... It will create a very good local benefit to have sandwiches for people who live and work out there.”

That supervisorial support is important for Wilcoxson because the initiative process is just one hurdle he needs to  jump. The other hurdle, assuming the initiative passes, is to go before the Board of Supervisors and ask for a use permit. So far Supervisors Mark Luce and Diane Dillon say they are opposed to his initiative. Brad Wagenknecht, whose district includes Carneros and west Napa, where the marketplace is located, said he wants to stay neutral until the time for a permit comes around.

“I see why Mr. Wilcoxson wants to add the things he wants to add to it and that the site would be a problematic agricultural site, but I also have heard from enough folks that go by the area regularly about him overstepping his bounds. I’ve been trying to stay out of it.”

Wagenknecht, likely a key vote if Wilcoxson gets his way with the electorate, said the permit process was crucial.

“The permit will set parameters,” he said. “When you do one of these petitions ... there’s no good strong legal language that ties it down. But this time, when he comes in for a use permit we’ll have a chance to nail it down.”