A controversial winery near Paso Robles will be looked at again Thursday by the county Planning Commission.
The winery, Heart Hill, would eventually produce 50,000 cases of wine near Anderson Road and Highway 46 West. The project has drawn criticism from neighboring wineries, who would like the facility moved elsewhere on the property. Here’s a rundown of the issues:
What’s new
• Niner Wine Estates has revised its landscape plan, with additional trees and berms to shield the facility from view. Processed wastewater would be used to irrigate the landscaping.
• Slow-growth advocacy group North County Watch gave a letter to the county from the state Department of Conservation regarding the project’s compliance with the Williamson Act, which preserves agricultural land, said Sue Luft of North County Watch. The letter expressed concerns about the site’s kitchen, lounge and special event plans because they could be considered nonagricultural uses.
• The county has asked Heart Hill to reduce the kitchen, proposed at 1,340 square feet, to a maximum of 800 square feet. The county is also asking for fewer events on the property. The latest request from Niner is 18 events, one with up to 300 guests, three with up to 200 guests, four with up to 100 guests and 10 with up to 75 guests. County staff is recommending 14 special events take place including four events with up to 100 people and 10 events with up to 75 people.
• Three additional letters in support of the project have been given to the county, for a total of eight.
• Anderson Road neighbors opposing Heart Hill hired Hydrometrics, an Oakland hydrology firm, to look at the project’s original water study done by Cleath and Associates. Hydrometrics concluded there is not an adequate water supply for the project and the project will have negative effects on neighbors.
The issues: Wastewater
Opponents: Neighboring wineries, such as Midnight Cellars, say they are concerned about a wastewater pond that would sit between Heart Hill and Midnight Cellars. Neighbors said they believe the pond would give off a smell that would drive customers away from their tasting room. They have spoken to other wineries with similar systems, said neighbor Eric Jensen of Booker Vineyard, who said the smell is noticeable and rotten.
Niner Wine Estates: The ponds would have a five-stage filtration system that is state of the art and beyond any other waste ponds in county wineries. The pond is also monitored by a computer and will be maintained daily, said Brian Storrs, president of Niner Wine Estates. Niner Wine Estates’ offices are particularly close to the ponds so employees can also keep an eye on it.
Water use
Opponents: The Hydro-metrics study concludes that there may not be enough water for the project and there could be impacts on neighbors. Cameron Tana, vice president of Hydrometrics, said further testing on the stability of the area’s wells is needed. Neighbors say there are already significant water issues in the area, and the project could make it worse.
Niner Wine Estates: Tim Cleath of Cleath and Associates wrote the original water study accepted by the county. Cleath said in a letter to Niner Wine Estates he does not believe additional tests are necessary because the original tests were performed during a drought period at much higher rates than the property will use. A review by Rick Hoffman and Associates of Santa Barbara agrees with the Cleath report, stating there is enough water and water use will not hurt neighbors.
Traffic
Opponents: Neighbors are worried about traffic between Heart Hill and Bootjack Ranch, where some of the grapes will be grown. The 18-foot-wide Anderson Road cannot fit a large truck and a car, Jensen said. Turn lanes to Anderson Road should be installed if the Highway 46 entrance is not used for production traffic.
Niner Wine Estates: The winery’s grapes, grown at Bootjack Ranch on Highway 46 East, will be brought over in pickups and at a maximum rate of six trips per day, said winemaker Amanda Cramer. Bottles will also need to be brought in, but only a few times a year. All other traffic, including tasting room customers, will enter from Highway 46. An extra lane will be added to Highway 46, toward the tasting room driveway.
Size and scale
Opponents: Neighbors, Jensen said, believe the size of the processing facility does not fit in with other buildings on Anderson Road. They say the wine production could be done in a much smaller facility that would not change the landscape of the area.
Niner Wine Estates: The total square footage for the facility will be 91,521 square feet (four buildings on 136 acres). They said the processing facility may seem larger than most because tasks traditionally done outside will be done inside the building, Storrs said. The footprint of the processing facility will be 56,000 square feet.
Can Paso Robles support more wineries?
Original article syndicated via the Telegram Tribune.
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