SINSKEY VINEYARDS INC. / ROBERT SINSKEY VINEYARDS / USE PERMIT MAJOR MODIFICATION NO. P19-00161-MOD

CEQA Status: Consideration and possible adoption of a Categorical Exemption Class 1. It has been determined that this type of project does not have a significant effect on the environment and is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). See Section 15301 [Class 1 Minor Alterations to Existing Facilities] which may be found in the guidelines for the implementation of the CEQA at 14 CCR §15301. The project site is not included on a list of hazardous materials sites compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5.

Request as Revised: Approval of a Use Permit Major Modification to an existing 143,000 gallon per year winery to allow the following: COMPONENTS NECESSARY TO REMEDY EXISTING VIOLATIONS: 1) Recognition of daily by-appointment tastings of 125 75 persons per day. Currently authorized for 132 “Public” visitors a day, allowed to occur without prior appointment. The by-appointment visitation would be an addition to the currently authorized visitation and would result in a total of 207 visitors per day; 2) Recognition of 36 full-time employees and six part-time employees. Currently authorized for 10 full-time employees and five part-time employees; 3) Recognition of use of portions of the cave for visitation and marketing activities. Currently authorized for production related uses only; 4) Recognition of on-premises consumption of wines in areas used for hospitality. Currently not an authorized activity; and 5) Modify an existing condition to allow by-appointment visitation to occur on the same day as an event. OTHER COMPONENTS REQUESTED: 1) Modify the existing marketing plan to reduce the total number of events. The project is located on an approximately 11.82 acre site within the AW (Agricultural Watershed) zoning district with a General Plan land use designation of AWOS (Agriculture, Watershed & Open Space) at 6320 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA; APN: 031-230-017.

Staff Recommendation: Find the project Categorically Exempt from CEQA and approve the Use Permit Major Modification, as modified and conditioned.

Staff Contact: Charlene Gallina, Supervising Planner, (707) 299-1355 or charlene.gallina@countyofnapa.org

Applicant Contact: Robert Sinskey, 6320 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94558; (707) 944-9090, pinot@robertsinskey.com

Applicant Representative Contact: Richard Tooker, Farella Braun + Martel LLP; 899 Adams Street, Suite G, St. Helena, CA 94575; (707) 967-4152; rtooker@fbm.com

CONTINUED FROM THE DECEMBER 2, 2020 COMMISSION MEETING.

WHEELER FARMS PARTNERS, LLC / WHEELER FARMS / USE PERMIT MAJOR MODIFICATION # P19-00130 AND EXCEPTION TO THE NAPA COUNTY ROAD AND STREET STANDARDS

CEQA Status: Consideration and possible adoption of a Negative Declaration. According to the proposed Negative Declaration, the proposed project would not have any potentially significant environmental impacts. The project site is not included on a list of hazardous materials sites compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5.

Request: Approval of a Use Permit Major Modification to an existing 50,000 gallon per year winery to allow the following: A. Components Necessary to Remedy Existing Violations: (1) Recognition of 14 full-time and eight part-time employees. Currently authorized for two full-time and two part-time employees; (2) Recognition of the use of a loft area previously permitted for production use only for wine tasting (accessory use); and (3) Recognition of two existing marketing events per year (120 guests per event). Currently authorized for four events per month (24 guests per event) and four events per year (75 guests per event). B. Expansion Beyond Existing Entitlements: (1) Increase in maximum annual permitted wine production from 50,000 to 70,000 gallons; (2) Increase the number of employees from 14 full-time and eight part-time (existing conditions to be recognized via the County’s Code Compliance program) to 15 full-time and eight part-time; (3) Upgrade the existing wastewater treatment system; (4) Removal of approximately 4,330 square feet of vineyard to accommodate the proposed driveway and parking; (5) Increase parking spaces from 16 spaces to 31 spaces; (6) Improvement of the existing driveway to county standards and extension to proposed employee parking area; and (7) Installation of a left-turn lane on Zinfandel Lane at the project entrance. The project also includes a request for an exception to the Napa County Road and Street Standards (RSS) to allow the existing access gates to remain and not be widened to a width of 22 feet and a reduction of driveway width for some portions of the existing driveway. The project is located on an approximately 11.66 acre site within the AP (Agricultural Preserve) zoning district with a General Plan land use designation of AR (Agricultural Resources) at 588 Zinfandel Lane, Saint Helena, CA; APN: 030-260-016.

Staff Recommendation: Adopt the Negative Declaration and approve the Exception to the Napa County Roads & Street Standards and Use Permit Major Modification, as conditioned.

Staff Contact: Jason R. Hade, Principal Planner, (707) 259-8757 or jason.hade@countyofnapa.org

Applicant Contact: Donna Oldford, Plans4Wine, 2620 Pinot Way, Saint Helena, CA 94574, (707) 963-5832 or dboldford@aol.com