Beth Edwards, a Ramona winery owner, unfolds a flow chart to show the lengthy process involved in getting a permit. Edwards spoke Wednesday before the county Board of Supervisors about an ordinance for small wineries that want to open tasting rooms. Supervisors, from left, are Dianne Jacob, Pam Slater-Price, and Bill Horn. Photo by Hayne Palmour IV REGION: Supervisors OK 'boutique' winery ordinance
But neighbors will apparently have the final say
By EDWARD SIFUENTES - Staff Writer | ∞
Beth Edwards, a Ramona winery owner, unfolds a flow chart to show the lengthy process involved in getting a permit. Edwards spoke Wednesday before the county Board of Supervisors about an ordinance for small wineries that want to open tasting rooms. Supervisors, from left, are Dianne Jacob, Pam Slater-Price, and Bill Horn. Photo by Hayne Palmour IV SAN DIEGO ---- County supervisors on Wednesday made it easier for small wineries to open tasting rooms, but that doesn't necessarily mean that customers will be sipping local wine any time soon.
The supervisors waived a requirement for cumbersome and expensive major-use permits. Instead, they left it up to the neighbors, who must unanimously agree to the wine-tasting rooms, a condition one vintner said could prove nearly as restrictive as the permits.
Supervisors voted 4-0, with Supervisor Ron Roberts absent, to allow boutique wineries to open tasting rooms on private roads with fewer than 10 residences by creating road maintenance agreements with neighbors.
Applicants on private roads with more than 10 residences would need a major-use permit from the county. Major-use permits require costly land-use and environmental reviews.
Carolyn Harris, a member of the Ramona Valley Vineyards Association, which represents about a dozen Ramona area winemakers and spearheaded the effort to create the new ordinance, praised the supervisors' decision.
Harris is co-owner of the Chuparosa Vineyards in Ramona.
However, Harris said her group hopes to change the ordinance because it would be too difficult for most wineries to get unanimous agreements from neighbors.
The ordinance is designed to foster local winemakers and boost the region's once-thriving industry.
It also includes a provision that will allow wineries to sell their products on the property, by mail, by phone and via the Internet.
Under previous regulations, winemakers could sell wholesale to restaurants and markets, but not directly to the public. Opening a tasting room will make it easier for them to market and sell the wines, supporters said.
The ordinance, which takes effect in 30 days, was opposed by neighbors in Ramona who said they were concerned about the possibility of increased drunken driving on their rural, private roads.
To ease neighbors' concerns, the ordinance includes a requirement for the wineries to enter into a road maintenance agreement with their neighbors.
Some neighbors said Wednesday they remain worried about insurance liability and lawsuits stemming from accidents on the roads.
"The cumulative effect of wine tasting can't be ignored," said Jim Beggs, a Ramona resident opposed to the ordinance.
Supervisor Dianne Jacob recommended that county planners work to establish a tiered category of wineries, with each category requiring more regulation. The classifications would be: boutique, for those producing no more than 12,000 gallons of wine a year; small, up to 55,999 gallons; medium, no more than 100,000 gallons; and large, at least 100,000 gallons.
During public comment, about six Ramona residents spoke against the ordinance, including Bruce Eastwood, who said a winery near his property had caused an increase in traffic and vandalism in the area. The ordinance also has created animosity among residents, he said.
"This has pitted neighbor against neighbor," Eastwood said.
Proponents, including most supervisors, have said that easing the restrictions could help revive San Diego County's once-booming, pre-Prohibition wine industry, add to the county's tax-base and attract tourists.
Before Prohibition, when the federal government banned the sale of alcohol in the 1920s, the Ramona area was home to hundreds of acres of vineyards, according to the Ramona Valley Vineyard Association's Web site.
Today, it has 20 vineyards covering 60 acres, according to the group.
"It's a big first step in the right direction," Supervisor Jacob said of the ordinance.
Contact staff writer Edward Sifuentes at (760) 740-3511 or esifuentes@nctimes.com.
More Stories
Advertisement
Marie-Anne wrote on Apr 24, 2008 12:40 PM:Give the neighbors free wine, and they'll all agree to allow the tasting rooms. USA is such a "whiney" place. In France, just about anyone who has property growing grapes for wine can have folks come in and sit and sip a glass. Americans are such prudes!
Karl wrote on Apr 24, 2008 1:26 PM:Marie-Anne, France is calling your name. Seeya.
Marie-Anne wrote on Apr 24, 2008 4:32 PM:Karl, wish I could. I'm being paid such a ridiculous amount of currency from your government (environmental specialist) that I dare not leave now.
You have to admit (if you've been anywhere outside of Temecula) that this, and the previous ordinance were benighted at best.
Cal wrote on Apr 24, 2008 4:35 PM:Seems to me that if it's OK to have wine tasting rooms in your neighborhood, it should be OK to have medical marijuana dispensaries. The supervisors have gone out of their way to fight state sanctioned legal use of medical cannabis while they are falling all over themselves to set up back yard wineries. Just the same old hyPOTcrisy.
Jim wrote on Apr 24, 2008 5:25 PM:Not sure what the tort law is in France, but here it is such that an accident caused by a winery visitor could result in a lawsuit for all private road easement holders. Even if the homeowners have insurance, they aren't guarunteed to be covered. Retail wine sales/tasting/restaurant operations should be allowed for private road properties.
The Board Of Supervisors decided this was an important issue 4 months ago, only to ignore it this time around. God help those private road homeowners who end up being sued. And yes, this has actually happened to private road homeowners.
Private roads simply aren't built to County road safety standards, and not built to handle the general public. Traffic accidents are more likely on these roads. Also the police can not patrol these private roads. Additionally, there is no legal speed limit.
Jim wrote on Apr 24, 2008 6:52 PM:Correction:
Retail wine sales/tasting/restaurant operations should NOT be allowed for private road properties.
Wino wrote on Apr 24, 2008 8:54 PM:These farmers already grow the wine and sell it. Why not encourage tourism and have tasting rooms? What's the big deal? Look at Temecula...I'm sure the other surrounding business also benefit.
Local wrote on Apr 26, 2008 4:14 AM:The issue is private property rights. No one should be allowed to impact their neighbors in a negative way. Businesses drawing extra traffic on private roads should be up to the discretion of the property owners. The type of business just clouds an obvious issue. Smoke screen... anyone?
First name only. Comments including last names, contact addresses, e-mail addresses or phone numbers will be deleted. Attempts to misrepresent your identity or impersonate any person will not be approved. All comments are screened before they appear online, so please keep them brief. Comments reflect the views of those commenting and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff writers. Click here to view additional comment policies.
Submit Comment[-]
Today's Stories
Advertisement