Regarding the proposed winery and meeting/events center proposed for the Redwood Meadows area off the north side of Bonny Doon Road, with an entrance just above and across from Smith Grade. 

On 23 August 23 2000, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the winery application, but to severely limit the number of guests who can be at the winery at any one time. Read more about it by clicking here. Details of that decision were subsequently appealed by the applicant.

On Wednesday, 8 November 2000, the Santa Cruz Planning Commission denied the request of the attorney for the Redwood Meadows Ranch Winery proposal to change the wording in the "Findings" of the Planning Department staff. (The "Findings" are like a road map of how the Planning Commission reached its decision.)

The proposed winery’s attorney, Lloyd Williams, wanted the language change in an apparent effort to undermine the legal basis for the Planning Commission’s decision to severely limit the number and capacity of events the winery will be permitted to have. (See the story in the Nov-Dec 2000 Highlander.)

The winery developers now have until 22 November 2000 to appeal the decision to the Board of Supervisors. Watch this web site for more updates.



Here is the most recent position letter by the RBDA:

26 July 2000

Planning Commission
Santa Cruz County
County Government Center
701 Ocean Street, Room 400
Santa Cruz CA 95060

Re:  Redwood Meadows Ranch Winery, Application #97-0787

Dear Commissioners:

The Rural Bonny Doon Association has several very serious concerns
regarding William and Robin Cunningham's proposal for a winery that would
be rented out for numerous large events which have little to do with
manufacturing or selling wine, setting a precedent for uses far beyond what
agricultural parcels are supposed to be used for.

First, we do not oppose the establishment of a vineyard as an appropriate
use of the Redwood Meadows Ranch's Open Space Easement.  And we recognize
that, by tradition, wineries have been permitted adjacent to vineyards as a
convenience to the grower, who does not have to truck his grapes to a
distant destination.  In this case, however, the overwhelming bulk of the
grapes will be grown elsewhere and trucked to the vineyard/winery over the
highways and up narrow, twisting and steep Bonny Doon Road.  Why should
such a manufacturing facility be located in Bonny Doon?

Although wineries have been placed traditionally on agricultural parcels,
these lands have not been restricted, as here, by an Open Space Easement.
Buildings of any size, let alone accompanying commercial enterprises, are
incompatible with an OSE.  If, despite these considerations, a winery is
permitted on this OSE land, we suggest that it be limited to a capacity of
50,000 gallons:  the smaller size would diminish traffic disruption and be
more in keeping with the spirit of the OSE.

A second, related question is how far from the original agricultural use
another allowed use should be allowed to go.   Is it true that wineries
must go with vineyards and parties must go with wineries?   The implication
is that the county should approve these additional uses because without
them, the agricultural use would fail.   Perhaps the agricultural use
should not be started if it cannot succeed by itself.

We wonder whether, should the vineyard succumb to disease (a high
probability, at present), the immediate neighbors and Bonny Doon would be
left with a large commercial plant and events venue, and no agricultural
use whatsoever.

A third concern is land use:  the residential parcels surrounding the
proposed vineyard, and winery and events facility, still require the same
compensating open space that they required in 1983 when the original permit
was granted.  The Rural Density Matrix at the time identified 54 acres as
over 50% slope and unbuildable, 142 acres as in the Mountain Residential
category, and 73 acres as Rural Residential.   Because of various physical
constraints on the land, the matrix determined that the average parcel size
should be 10 acres in the Rural Residential areas and 25 acres in the
Mountain Residential areas, resulting in a total of twelve parcels as we
have today.    But instead of parcels of 10 and 25 acres, a Planned Unit
Development was created, the only PUD in Bonny Doon, with parcels of only 5
acres.

This is not an underdeveloped subdivision because it has a 68 acre Open
Space Easement and 140 acres of steep timberland.    Rather the clear
conclusion is that the OSE is a compensation for the undersized lots, and
that any use on that OSE should be as compatible with the residences as if
it were on their own property.

We do fear these precedents:  1) that in the guise of an agricultural
adjunct, a substantial and disruptive commercial activity can be located in
an area where it would otherwise be unpermitted, 2) that an events venue
can be created out of all proportion to any related agricultural use, 3)
that the County's zoning regulations can be set aside, and 4) that the
neighbors' just refusal to let their land be used without their permission
can be ignored.

Therefore, we do, as noted above, respectfully disagree with Planning staff
about the size of a winery.  In all other matters, however, we support the
staff conditions and monitoring plans and the staff recommendation that no
special events or parties be held at Redwood Meadows Ranch.

Sincerely,

[signed]

Miriam Beames, Corresponding Secretary

cc:     Mardi Wormhoudt, Supervisor, 3rd District, Santa Cruz County


On January 2000, the RBDA took an earlier position on this development.

Here is the original application. The report accompanying the current plan weighs in at around 500 pages. This is taken verbatim and in its entirety from the Environmental Coordinator's Agenda, dated September 28, 1998. The owner is Bill Cunningham, the applicant is winery manager Jim Weaver 
 
 
 


Proposal 97-0787     -       JIM WEAVER 

This is a proposal to construct a winery with a maximum annual production of 100,000 gallons of wine consisting of three structures; a 15,000 square foot winery, a 1800 square foot wine tasting  building and a 886 square foot office, including a vineyard, olive grove, 12 large events per year with up to 250 people, 24 events per year with up to 150 people and unlimited events with less than 100 people. The project requires approval of a Coastal Zone Permit, a Grading Permit, and a Commercial Development Permit. The property is located on the east side of Brisa Del Mar Drive approximately ½ mile west from Bonny Doon Road, in the Bonny Doon Planning Area. 

APN(s): 063-071-28 

Michael S. Ferry, planner 

Zone District(s): Agriculture 


 


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