WHAT: Sustainable Economies Conference
WHEN: April 5th
WHERE: Sonoma State University
WHAT: North Coast Forest Conservation Conference-
WHEN: June 7-9
WHERE: SR Junior College
WHEN: August 3
WHERE: Hyatt Vineyard Creek, Santa Rosa
Progress! – Board of Supes votes unanimously on Resolution for Wine Industry Zoning Code amendments
On October 11, 2016 the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors directed Staff to prepare a draft ordinance amending the County Zoning Code for consideration by the Planning Commission and recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to: (County-wide)
- Clarify the definition of events and food service
- Require cultural event permits for industry-wide events, and
- Allow tasting rooms and events in Industrial Park zones where facilities already provide processing.
The Board further directed Staff to develop standards and siting criteria for events in areas of local concentration, for adoption either as part of the Zoning Code or as separate guidelines. (Three areas of local concentration have been identified and mapped: Sonoma Valley – Dry Creek Valley and Westside Road).
The next step is for the Planning Department staff to draft ordinance language for Planning Commission and Board approval, which should come sometime in 2017. We will keep you posted.
Preserve Rural Sonoma County thanks all our supporters who wrote letters, met with Supervisors, Staff and members of the wine industry prior to this important decision. It’s been a long haul to get to this point, with hundreds of meeting hours, Commission and Board study sessions since 2012, and letters and great community support to address the impacts associated with explosive winery development and high intensity promotional activities.
We continue to monitor other wine industry land use issues, including the local coastal plan, which is still being drafted by County staff.