Planning Commission 10/21/2009 Regular Meeting

VIOLET GRGICH / GRGICH HILLS CELLAR / GRGICH HILLS ESTATE USE PERMIT MAJOR MODIFICATION No. P08-00648-MOD and VARIANCE No. P08-00656-VAR
CEQA Status: Subsequent Mitigated Negative Declaration Prepared. According to the proposed subsequent mitigated negative declaration, if mitigation measures are not included, the proposed project would have new potentially significant environmental impacts in the following areas: Agriculture Resources, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, and Transportation/Traffic. In addition, modifications to previously-adopted mitigation measures are proposed in the following areas: Noise, Aesthetics, Public Safety, and Traffic. The project site is not on any of the lists of hazardous waste sites enumerated under Government Code section 65962.5. 
Request: 
Variance No. P08-00656-VAR
Approval of a Variance from required winery road setbacks to allow additions to an existing residence to create a winery hospitality center 285 feet from Hwy. 29 (600 feet required) and 250 feet from an unnamed private driveway (300 feet required) and additions to an existing barn to create a winery storage barn 360 feet from Hwy. 29 (600 feet required) and 110 feet from an unnamed private driveway (300 feet required).
Use Permit Major Modification No. P08-00648-MOD
Ministerial Lot Line Adjustment to convert a 3 acre parcel and a 21 ½ acre parcel into a 13 ¼ acre parcel and a 11 ¼ acre parcel and a discretionary modification to Use Permit No. U-407677, as previously modified by No. U-297980, No. U-28485, No. U-90-3, No. 94348-MOD, No. 95639-MOD, No. 98376-MOD, and No. 99528-MOD, to allow the following on the resulting 13 ¼ acre parcel: 1.) conversion of and renovations to an existing 2,500 square foot residence to create a winery hospitality center, including installation of a commercial kitchen; 2.) phased additions to the proposed hospitality center totaling 3,733 square feet (for an eventual building area of 6,200 square feet); 3.) conversion of approximately .15 acres of vineyard into a winery hospitality center garden; 4.) conversion of and additions to an existing 1,800 square foot agricultural storage barn to create a 5,000 square foot barrel, case goods, and winery storage barn; 5.) widening and realignment of existing residential drives to provide access from the existing Grgich Hills Estate driveway entrance and to meet Napa County winery road standards (minimum 18 foot pavement widths); 6.) 3 new full time employees, legalization of 15 existing full time employees, and 2 new peak employees are proposed. (The resulting total employment would be 38 full time employees, 12 part time employees, and up to 2 peak/event employees); 7.) installation of a new sanitary sewage septic system; 8.) 22 additional parking spaces, for a total of 59; 9.) additional marketing events including three 75-person maximum private promotional tastings with meals per week, four 30-person maximum small private tastings with food pairings per week, and fifteen 100-person maximum private tasting events with meals annually; and 10.) updates and modifications to environmental mitigation measures and conditions of approval initially adopted with use permit U-90-3.
The project is to be located on a lot line adjusted 13 ¼ acre parcel located on the west side of State Highway 29, approximately ½ mile north of its intersection with Rutherford Cross Road (State Highway 128) within the AP (Agricultural Preserve) zoning district. Current APNs: 027-470-005 (3 acres) and 027-470-024 (21 ½ acres). 1829 and 1849 St. Helena Highway, Rutherford, Calif. 94573

Staff Recommendation: Adopt the subsequent mitigated negative declaration and mitigation monitoring and reporting plan and approve the requested variance and use permit as conditioned.

Staff Contact: Chris Cahill, 253-4847 or ccahill@co.napa.ca.us

MARK CARTER & NILS VENGE/ENVY WINES LLC  – USE PERMIT MAJOR MODIFICATION REQUEST #P09-00288-MOD
CEQA Status: Categorically Exempt. CEQA Guidelines Section 15303 (new construction or conversion of small structures). This project site is not on any of the lists of hazardous waste sites enumerated under Government code section 65962.5.
Request: Approval to modify Use Permit # 01074 (Calistoga Partners LP) to allow the construction of a new 4,137 square foot barrel storage building with no increase in production, marketing, or employees.  The project is located on an approximate 18.4 acre parcel accessed from an approximate 790 foot private drive on the south side of Tubbs Lane approximately one quarter of a mile from its intersection with St. Helena Highway (Highway 29) within an AP (Agricultural Preserve) zoning district. Located at 1170 Tubbs Lane, Calistoga; Assessor’s Parcel # 017-210-27.

Staff Recommendation: Find the project categorically exempt from CEQA and approve the Use Permit Modification as conditioned.
 
Staff Contact: Kirsty Shelton, 299-1377 kshelton@co.napa.ca.us