Please send comments on Hop Kiln II (Reference PLP 13-0011) to the County Planner for this project - Sigrid Swedenborg,  email comments to [email protected] or call at 707-565-1914. For County Official and Supervisor eMails, go to TAKE ACTION > Contact List

See the Westside Community Association's Advisory Group's WCA POSITION for ideas in crafting your letter. 

Overview:  Hop Kiln's new project is described in the attached documents (Link to PLP13-0011_Application.pdf and PLP13-0011_Proposal_Statement_revision_6-25-13.pdf ) and summarized below: 

• Increase the annual production capacity to 30,000 cases (note: the Hop Kiln property has sufficient grape production to support this case production - i.e. little importation should be required.) 
  
  
• Construct a new winery building  attached to the east side of the historic Hop Kiln (See drawings)
  
  
• Turn the existing historic residence into marketing accommodations (overnight accommodations for guests associated with the winery)
  
  
• Use the existing barn across the street as wine storage for 16,000 cases 
  
  
• Request 19 special events and 10 industry wide events; including 6 weddings, 8 winemaker dinners up to 50 people until 10 PM at night, 8 events up to 100 people and 3 events up to 150 people that will close one hour before sunset. 

Design Concerns:  

The project was reviewed by the Landmark's Commission in July 2013, and the public was not noticed of this meeting.  The community has significant concerns with the proposed design, and is requesting an approved design by Landmarks Commission prior to the Planning Commission hearing.  (See Hop Kiln II DESIGN DOCUMENTS) 

• Note the new "building" next to the Historic Hop Kilns is merely a long metal roof; the tank farm will still be visible from the scenic corridor.  The current canopy and canvas awnings will be removed when the new building is constructed, and the illegal trailers have already been removed. 
  
  
• The new 18,550 sq foot building is proposed to be constructed on the east side of the existing historic Hop Kilns and is proposed to house the following uses: New wine making area, (11,350 sq feet), new staff area  (3,000 sq feet), new barrel storage (4,200 sq feet).  
  
  
• The new construction has a metal roof, is larger than the existing historic Hop Kiln building - the historic Hop Kiln tasting room/winery is 15,381 sq feet. 

• The new Hop Kiln winery buildings, tasting in the existing Hop Kilns and indoor event space will be nearly 34,000 square feet total.  

  • PRMD is applying a general rule that commercial office space (staff area) cannot exceed 15% of the square footage of the winery facility, including tasting, production and storage.  Hop Kiln II "staff area" is 7.08% of total.  
    
    
  • Type 1 Williamson Act Agricultural Preserve contracts revised Uniform Rules for Ag Preserves, requires that structures not occupy more than 15% or 5 acres, whichever is less, of contracted land.  Hop Kiln II structures cover approximately 0.894 acres.

Event Information:  Significant Outdoor Event space is proposed:

Events are proposed in three areas:  

1.  Lawn area in front of the winery,

2.  Backyard area behind the Victorian house, and

3.  Within the winery building.

No stage, amplified music or speech at outdoor events; however, non-amplified music and a dance floor for weddings will create significant noise at the site; thus, the sound consultant recommended a SEVEN FOOT HIGH temporary barrier around the front lawn for weddings and the same around the bottling area during bottling activities. 

Events held indoors or at the backyard lawn area with non-amplified outdoor music would not require the 7 foot high noise barrier mitigation. Note that the County planner told Nancy Citro that staff is recommending that special events only be held in the backyard behind the Victorian house (#2 above).