> Someone wanted to turn a winery into a eco-tourism boutique hotel with a winery tour and experience.
Because a agricultural business and a hotel business are two different things, and Spain has, rightfully so, their thumb on the spread of tourism, because it affects local communities negatively.
Otherwise investors could just come in, buy a random agriculture business and then turn it into luxury hotels/lodging.
> I’ve been involved with startups and small businesses for more than a decade, and I haven’t still heard of any of them doing things 100% by the book, because it’s just impossible.
Because entrepreneurs are notoriously bad thinking further than their own interests. It always, "just" something they want to do.
Zoning rules and regulations have their purpose. Are some of those in some places idiotic? Yes. Do most of them still have their reason? Also yes.
Otherwise we can stop protesting datacenters and the trump family building a eco-luxury resort in a nature reserve.
I cannot believe there are people defending this.
Rules exist for a reason, it shouldn't take 4 years to get an answer on how to proceed in one direction or another. In NYC for example you often need to hire a "permit expediter" just to get a yes/ no/ maybe answer on your apartment renovation within a year. These bureaucracies are often literally impenetrable without professional help.