MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE

CONSERVATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING COMMISSION

COUNTY OF NAPA

 

May 21, 2003

 

 

1.                  Call to Order.

      THE CONSERVATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE

COUNTY OF NAPA MET IN REGULAR SESSION, WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2003, AT 9:00 A.M.  THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY ACTING CHAIR JIM KING AT 9:03 A.M.

           

 

2.                  Roll Call.

THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT: COMMISSIONERS

BOB FIDDAMAN, DAVID GRAVES AND JIM KING.   CHAIRPERSON

LARRY SCHOENKE AND VICE-CHAIR TERRY SCOTT WERE EXCUSED.  

 

THE COMMISSION ELECTED COMMISSIONER JIM KING TO ACT AS CHAIRPERSON FOR THE DURATION OF THE MEETING.

                                                DG-BF-JK-TS-LS                             

                                                                                  X   X

 

 

3.         Pledge of Allegiance.

CATHY ROCHE, ATTORNEY FOR DICKENSON, PEATMAN AND FOGARTY, LED THE SALUTE TO THE FLAG.

 

 

4.         Citizen Comments and Recommendations.

            NONE

 

 

5.                  Approval of Minutes.

NONE

 

 

6.         Agenda Review.

NO CHANGES

 

 

Public Hearings

 

 

7.         Items to be decided without additional testimony.

SEE ITEMS 9 AND 12.

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.         Arroyo Creek Vineyards / Michael & Chyrle Crane Trust Etal – Use Permit Request

#02150-UP     
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Status:  Mitigated Negative Declaration Prepared.  According to the Mitigated Negative Declaration, the proposed project would have, if mitigation measures are not included, potentially significant environmental impacts in the following areas: aesthetics, biological resources, cultural resources, geology and soils, hydrology and water quality, noise and transportation/traffic.        
Request:  Approval of a Use Permit to establish a new 125,000-gallon per year winery with: (1) a 6,400 square foot building for fermentation and bottling, wine laboratory and administration office; a 1,024 square foot hospitality building including a kitchen and tasting area; and 23,050 square feet of caves for barrel storage for a winery totaling 30,474 square feet; (2) a 9,500 square foot work area for a crush pad, crusher and press; (3) custom crushing activities (crushing,

fermentation, barrel aging and bottling) for up to seven custom producers utilizing 60% (75,000 gallons per year) of the total approved winery production capacity; (4) two full-time employees

with six additional part-time employees during crush and bottling; (5) eight parking spaces; (6) one tour and tasting by appointment only per day with a maximum of 20 people (140 visitors per

week); (7) a marketing plan with four wine trade events per month with a maximum of 25 people; two wine trade events per year with a maximum of 40 people and two auction related events per

year with a maximum of 250 persons (no events shall occur at the same time); (8) two wastewater ponds; (9) septic and leach field improvements; (10) improvements to the existing access road

from Napa Vallejo Highway (State Highway 221) to the winery development areas; and (11) installation of a deceleration lane on the Napa Vallejo Highway and other minor improvements as required by CALTRANS, located on a 86.09 acre parcel on the east side of the Napa Vallejo Highway, approximately 750 feet north and 3,000 feet east of its intersection with Kaiser Road within an AW / AW:AC (Agricultural Watershed / Agricultural Watershed: Airport Compatibility) split zoning district.  (Assessor’s Parcel #046-370-031).

PUBLIC HEARING HELD – TESTIMONY PRESENTED

 

THE COMMISSION APPROVED ENVIRONMENTAL RECOMMENDATIONS 1 THROUGH 6 AND ADOPTED THE MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION AND THE MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM.

                                                            BF-DG-JK-TS-LS

                                                                                  X   X

 

THE COMMISSION APPROVED USE PERMIT #02510-UP BASED ON FINDINGS 9 THROUGH 13, SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL 1 THROUGH 6, AS MODIFIED.                                            BF-DG-JK-TS-LS

                                                                                  X   X

 

           

9.         Milat Vineyards / Michael and Carolyn Milat Trust Etal – Use Permit Modification Request #02627-MOD           
CEQA Status: Categorically Exempt.   
Request:  Approval to modify Use Permit #U-508485 to construct a 2,500 square foot addition to an existing 2,400 square foot winery building for barrel storage resulting in a winery totaling 4,900 square feet and cover a crush pad area of 440 square feet.  No increase in the existing 20,000 gal per year in production capacity, marketing or other activities (as previously modified and approved) is requested. 


 

9.         Continued

 

The project is located on a 10.50-acre parcel west of St. Helena Highway (State Highway 29) approximately 1,000 feet north of Zinfandel Lane within an AP (Agricultural Preserve) zoning district.  (Assessor’s Parcel #027-160-001) 1091 St. Helena Highway, St. Helena. 

PUBLIC HEARING HELD – NO TESTIMONY PRESENTED

 

ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:   THE PROJECT MEETS CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15303; CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT; CLASS 3(c), NEW CONSTRUCTION OR CONVERSION OF SMALL STRUCTURES.

                                                BF-DG-JK-TS-LS

                                                                                 X   X

 

THE COMMISSION APPROVED USE PERMIT #02627-MOD BASED ON FINDINGS 6 THROUGH 11, SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL 1 THROUGH 16.

                                                BF-DG-JK-TS-LS

                                                                                 X    X

 

 

10.       Christina Winery / Christina Vineyards – Use Permit Request #03004-UP

CEQA Status: Declaration Prepared.  According to the proposed Negative Declaration, the proposed project would have no potentially significant environmental impacts.    
Request: Approval of a Use Permit to establish a new 20,000 gallon per year winery with: (1) a 4,705 square foot winery building within an existing barn and construct a ±160 square foot addition for a bathroom and laboratory for a winery totaling ±4,865 square feet; (2) ±801 square

foot covered work area; (3) two full-time employees; (4) tours and tasting by appointment only with a maximum of 10 visitors per day; (5) four parking spaces; (6) a marketing plan with 12

private events per year with a maximum of 30 people per event, two release events per year with a maximum of 100 people per event; and (7) the construction of an engineered septic system,

located on a 13.52-acre parcel on the north side of Oak Knoll Avenue approximately 1/4 of a mile west of its intersection with Big Ranch Road within an AP (Agricultural Preserve) zoning district. (Assessor’s Parcel #036-150-052) 1300 Oak Knoll Avenue, Napa.  

PUBLIC HEARING HELD – TESTIMONY PRESENTED

 

THE COMMISSION APPROVED ENVIRONMENTAL RECOMMENDATIONS 1 THROUGH 6 AND ADOPTED THE NEGATIVE DECLARATION.                                                                                                   BF-DG-JK-TS-LS

                                                                                 X   X

 

THE COMMISSION APPROVED USE PERMIT #03004-UP BASED ON FINDINGS

10 THROUGH 14, SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL 1 THROUGH 20, AS MODIFIED.                                               BF-DG-JK-TS-LS

                                                                                 X   X

 


 

11.       Cucina Italian Restaurant (Sharyn Simmons & Stefano Gusberti – Proprietors) /

Charles Gardyn - Use Permit Request #03077-UP 
CEQA Status: Categorically Exempt.   
Request:  Approval of a Use Permit to convert an existing 1,505 square foot commercial building to a 38 seat restaurant that includes:  (1)  a limited number of outside dining tables (no meeting

room or bar); (2) construction of a 120 square foot outside trellis; (3) days and hours of operation: 

five days per week (Wed – Sun) from 11 AM to 9 PM; (4) two part-time employees; and, (5) 16 on-site existing parking spaces, located on a 0.43-acre parcel on the northeast corner of Berryessa-Knoxville Road and the southern entry of Spanish Flat Loop Road within a CN (Commercial Neighborhood) zoning district. (Assessor’s Parcel # 019-261-022)  4310 Knoxville Road, Napa.          

PUBLIC HEARING HELD – TESTIMONY PRESENTED

 

ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: THE PROJECT IS CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT BASED ON CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15301, CLASS 1(a).

                                                            BF-DG-JK-TS-LS

                                                                                 X   X      

 

THE COMMISSION APPROVED USE PERMIT #03077-UP BASED ON FINDINGS 5 THROUGH 10, SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL 1 THROUGH 10.    

BF-DG-JK-TS-LS

                                                                                 X   X                  

                                                 

 

12.       Biale Estate Winery / Robert Biale Etal – Use Permit Request #03088-UP
CEQA Status: Mitigated Negative Declaration Prepared and Adopted.  A Mitigated Negative Declaration was previously adopted by the Planning Commission on May 2, 2001.        
Request: Approval of a Use Permit to establish a new 40,000 gallon per year winery with:  (1) 15,412 square feet of building (s) for a winery totaling 15,412 square feet; (2) 5,849 square feet of covered work areas; (3) four full-time and three part-time employees; (4) ten parking spaces; (5) tours and tasting by appointment only with a maximum of ten visitors per week; (6) a marketing plan with two activities per year with a maximum of 100 people per event; and, (7) construction of a special design wastewater system, located on a 10.84 acre parcel on the northeast corner of Big

Ranch Road and Salvador Avenue within an AP (Agricultural Preserve) zoning district.  (Assessor’s Parcel #036-190-007) 4024 Big Ranch Road, Napa.          

PUBLIC HEARING HELD – NO TESTIMONY PRESENTED

 

THE COMMISSION FOUND THE PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION REMAINS.          BF-DG-JK-TS-LS

                                                          X   X

 

            THE COMMISSION APPROVED USE PERMIT #03088-UP BASED ON FINDINGS  10 THROUGH 14, SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL 1 THROUGH 20.

                                                                        BF-DG-JK-TS-LS

                                                                                             X   X

 


 

13.       Proposed Ordinance #03109-ORD making technical corrections to Sections 18.12.010, 18.104.230, 18.104.305 and 18.140.050 and amending Sections 18.104.270, 18.116.020 and 18.124.120 of the Napa County Code relating to standards and permits for fences, signs for agricultural parcels, setbacks for wineries located in open space areas, and revocation of use permits due to abandonment of use.

CEQA Status:  Categorical exemption pursuant to Class 5 (CEQA Guidelines Section 15303),

Minor alterations to land use limitations.

            PUBLIC HEARING HELD – TESTIMONY PRESENTED

 

 

THE COMMISSION APPROVED REFERRAL OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE

#03109-ORD AS AMENDED AND RECOMMENDED THE ORDINANCE TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR ADOPTION.

                                                                        DG-BF-JK-TS-LS     

                                                                                             X   X

 

 

Other Business

 

 

14.       City Referrals 

NONE

 

 

15.       Discussion of Items for the June 04, 2003 Meeting.

STEVE LEDERER, DEPUTY PLANNING DIRECTOR, ADVISED THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE JUNE 4, 2003 MEETING:

 

SIGNORELLO WINERY / RES INC. & WALRUS INC. – USE PERMIT REQUEST

#02269-MOD

 

HYBRID CO-GENERATION DIRECT FUELCELL POWER PLANT / PACIFIC UNION COLLEGE ASSOC. – USE PERMIT REQUEST #02399-UP

 

JOHNSON NELSON WINERY / MARK AND DANA JOHNSON NELSON H/W – USE PERMIT REQUEST #02541-UP         

 

JAMES COLE WINERY / JAMES HARDER AND COLLEEN CRAMSIE - VARIANCE REQUEST #02575-VAR AND USE PERMIT REQUEST #02576-UP

     

KEEVER WINERY / WILLIAM & OLGA KEEVER TRUST ETAL - VARIANCE REQUEST #02586-VAR AND USE PERMIT REQUEST #02587-UP 

 

LEDE VINEYARDS / S. ANDERSON WINERY / S. ANDERSON VISTA, INC. - VARIANCE REQUEST #02605-VAR AND USE PERMIT REQUEST #02606-UP    

 

BENNETT LANE WINERY / THOMAS AND KAREN LEONARDINI TRUST – USE PERMIT REQUEST #02638-MOD    

 

 

16.       Commissioner Comments.

COMMISSIONER KING THANKED PATRICK LYNCH, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING AND RENEE LEDERER, PLANNING ADMINISTRATION SPECIALIST, FOR THE UPDATED INFORMATION AND NEW DATABASE COMPILED FOR THE CALIFORNIA COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSIONER’S ASSOCIATION.

 

 

17.       Director's Report on Board of Supervisors' Actions.

LAURA ANDERSON, DEPUTY COUNTY COUNSEL, ADVISED A LAWSUIT HAD BEEN FILED AGAINST THE COUNTY REGARDING THE SETBACK ORDINANCE ON BEHALF OF THE NAPA VALLEY LAND STEWARDS CLAIMING THE SETBACK ORDINANCE WAS NOT ENVIRONMENTALLY ASSESSED.  MS. ANDERSON STATED THAT THE URGENCY ORDINANCE IS SET TO EXPIRE ON JUNE 16, 2003 AND THAT ON JUNE 3, 2003 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO REPEAL THE ORDINANCE OR PLACE THE SETBACK ORDINANCE ON THE BALLOT.  ALL EROSION CONTROL PLANS (ECP) WILL BE PROCESSED UNDER THE 1991 CONSERVATION REGULATIONS.

 

STEVE LEDERER, DEPUTY PLANNING DIRECTOR, SUGGESTED THE COMMISSION JOIN THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION (APA), AND THE COMMISSION CONCURRED.

 

 

18.       Future Agenda Items.

NONE

 

 

Adjournment.

ADJOURNED TO REGULAR CONSERVATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2003 AT 9:00 A.M.

 

                                                           

            __________________________________

JIM KING, Acting Chairperson

 

ATTEST:         CHARLES WILSON, Secretary-Director

 

__________________________________

SHERRY VATTUONE, Deputy Secretary      

 

 
Key

 

Vote:    JK = Jim King; BF = Bob Fiddaman; LS = Larry Schoenke; DG = David Graves; TS = Terrence Scott

 

The maker of the motion and second are reflected respectively in the order of the recorded vote.

Notations under vote:  N = No; A = Abstain; X = Excused