cumulative impacts of winery expansion

Santa Monica Coastal Zone: Vintners Lose Challenge to Local Coastal Program Ban on New Vineyards

From the California Land Use and Development Report April 24, 2020 A California Court of Appeal upheld denial of a petition by vintners challenging the prohibition on new vineyards within the Santa Monica Mountains Coastal Zone in deference to the California Coastal Commission’s finding that viticulture adversely impacts sensitive habitats, water quality, water supply, and …

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Napa: Proposed Small Winery Protections and Use Permit Streamlining Ordinance

Proposed Small Winery Protections and Use Permit Streamlining Ordinance: when circumventing environmental considerations, what is the cumulative impact? On Wednesday, December 18, 2019, 9 a.m.,  the Napa Planning Commission will be conducting a public hearing for what we believe is a revised proposed ordinance to streamline the application process for small winery expansions, an ordinance …

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Hall Protest Napa County 11-18-2016 (image by J.L.Souza)

Napa Vision 2050: Victory in Court against Walt Ranch

“A California appeals court ruled that Napa County violated state law in approving the large Walt Ranch vineyard development in the mountains east of the city of Napa. The decision sends the project, which would have destroyed more than 300 acres of riparian, oak and native grassland habitat for vineyards, back to the trial court. …

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Hopkins: No winery permit ban

Supervisor Hopkins rolls over for wine industry….again. Seriously no tension between rural and agriculture (alcohol farming)? “I don’t see a tension between rural and agricultural,” Hopkins said. “I really believe that agriculture is part of our rural character and that we must protect both going forward.” Hopkins: No winery permit ban Supervisor tells residents county …

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Opinion: wine industry permits

Dear Editor: County residents increasingly recognize that a moratorium on new wine industry permits is needed until long-promised tourism event regulations are in place and enforced.  (“Moratorium on wineries sought,” August 7)  Tennis Wick, the head of Permit Sonoma, states that “What we have to deal with now is taxing us at maximum capacity.”  This …

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