On June 2, the Applicant held a neighborhood meeting, and presented a one-page outline of a proposed project. The project is EXACTLY what the community groups opposed - a project focused on large events, masquerading as a micro-winery on a parcel with minimum agriculture. See Ten Acre Denial Key Points.
The size of the winery building is not the issue, but rather the fact that the proposed parcel is the wrong location for a winery/ event center for all the reasons stated in the Denial Key Points, including the facts that the substandard sized parcel is located in a residential enclave and in an area of detrimental Winery Concentration - there are already three (3) wineries within a 1/2 mile radius of the site.
Granting a Use Permit allowing ANY events on the site will open the door to a potentially unlimited number of events, and significant compliance issues for the neighborhood. The Applicant has a history of non-compliance with their Bella Wine Caves Use Permit.
- On April 25, 2014, Ben Neuman, County Code Enforcement, wrote to the Applicant relative to their Bella Wine Caves, "PRMD contends...the "marketing gatherings" consisting of Pinkout, Fall Harvest Jamboree and Harvest Fiddle Jamboree are considered to be special events. ... Music and catered food events are not addressed in UPE 99-0088 (Bella Use Permit). Therefore, this practice is not allowed."
- On June 14, 2015, Bella held its Pinkout event.
History and Community Position: In May, 2013, Adams LLC submitted an Application to the County for Ten Acre Project I, and informed the neighbors about the pending application in September, 2013. (Link to PLP13-0027_Referral_packet__Ten_Acre.pdf)
Neighbors met with Supervisor McGuire and County staff in November, 2013. Then, mailed a communication and arranged a "town hall meeting" on January 8, 2014 at Felta School - over 70 residents attended.
In December and January, 2014, citizens wrote nearly 40 letters to Supervisor McGuire and County staff requesting the County summarily DENY a project on this site. (Link to 3280_WestsideRoad_Call_to_Action.pdf )
On May 1, 2014 Adams LLC and Steve Martin Associates (SMA) held a neighborhood meeting at the proposed tasting room site on 3280 Westside Road. A communication was sent to residents along Westside Road, voicing our concern about a detrimental concentration of wineries, tasting rooms and events within a 1/2 mile radius of the proposed project. (See Page 2 Westside Road Winery Concentration )
At the meeting, attended by 36 residents, Adams LLC proposed several scenarios including building the winery and tasting room on 3279 Westside and the event facilities on 3280 Westside. No drawings, documents or substantiated facts were presented, and prior to the meeting no new plans were filed with the County.
The nearest neighbors wrote to the County and requested the County DENY the Ten Acre II Project, as the scaled down project is even more egregious in its violation of key General Plan criteria. (Open links to Ten_Acre_Denial_Key_Points and General_Plan_Citations_Reference.pdf.
Planning Commission Hearing Date has not been set: The Westside InfoZone will alert you to any new developments; and you will have an opportunity to review and comment prior to the Planning Commission Hearing.