Honyocker's Perspective

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I received this email below, along with many of my neighbors, from the steering committee that is working hard on the permit appeal for (opposition to) the Fort Ross Tasting Room on Meyers Grade Road.

Full disclosure: I am formerly a member of the steering committee of the tasting room opposition.  I departed the committee in August, and I have tremendous respect for the people and their huge efforts before, during and after my departure.  That said: Contrary to their wishes, I refused to remain civil towards the applicant because he has, on several occasions, directly and indirectly threatened me and my neighbors.  The permit applicant for this tasting room has threatened ALL his neighbors with investigations into our varied permitted, and potentially UN-permitted land use as retaliation against his tasting-room’s foes.  What I have seen, read and heard from the applicant and others amounts to nothing less than the extortion of our neighborhood to force his project’s approval and to squelch dissenting opinions.  That said, it’s important for anyone bothering to read this to have some background, however it is information that is fortunately NOT necessary nor effectual to the permit appeal itself.  The following information is.

The bullet points below are plain language reasons why this might probably matter to you.  Also important is the precedent this tasting room might set County-wide. This is something that will have much broader ramifications than simply a tasting room on the coast, as the applicant and his supporters would like everyone to yawn & believe. This tasting room, if approved, will open the door to tasting rooms literally ANYwhere in greater Sonoma County – all under the guise of “jobs” and “economic development”. Beware of the wolf in sheep’s clothing. more information & permit documents

Please take a minute to read the email to neighbors from the Opposition Steering Committee: {my comments in curly braces}

Hello-

Thank you for your interest in opposing the development of a tasting room at Fort Ross Vineyard on Meyers Grade Road.  A hearing before the Board of Supervisors is scheduled for Tuesday, September 21, at 2:30 pm in the Board of Supervisors Meeting Room. {please mark your calendar and attend!} It would be wonderful and is very important to have you and your friends there as a show of support!  It is also important that as many letters and/or e-mails as possible be sent, addresses and talking points provided below.

Written letters:

Supervisor District 5 – Efren Carrillo
County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors
575 Administration Drive, Room 100A
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

E-mail:

Efren Carrillo <ecarrillo@sonoma-county.org>
cc: Susan Upchurch <supchurc@sonoma-county.org>

Reference/Subject line:
Sept 21 Board Hearing – UPE09-0027

Talking Points:

Opposition Based On:

1. General Plan 2020 assures that visitor-oriented uses are compatible with and protect areas of the County with natural, undeveloped, scenic character.  {The tasting room is a large, commercial operation – NOT conducive to protecting the environment, nor the natural scenic character}

2. This wine tasting room would set a precedent. There are presently no wine tasting rooms open to the public, year round, without reservations in vineyards on Meyers Grade, Ft. Ross, King Ridge Roads. {Regionally, there are many other roads and rural areas where the same precedent might apply}

3. The tasting room and special events will increase commercial traffic and also put visiting, alcohol compromised, drivers on our narrow, winding, often foggy roads.  {Roads with NO shoulder, and the same roads which are becoming more & more popular with recreational & competitive cyclists.  It is my opinion that Wine Tasting & cycling tourism are not compatible uses on roads which have not been designed to accomodate both uses.  Namely: roads that have no shoulder, where auto & bike traffic MUST share the roadway are not appropriate for tasting rooms that introduce ANY level or risk of inebriated drivers onto the road.}

4. More traffic, large events and drinking drivers increase the need for emergency medical, law enforcement and fire services.  {…Critical services that are already pushed to the max by existing uses}

5. This is a groundwater-scarce area. {!!!} The special events will occur during the driest months of the year and may compromise ground water availability to neighbors, who depend on wells and springs.

6. Large outdoor events create noise that interferes with the quiet and natural sounds residents and visitors treasure.

We {/I} Support:

1. Wine tasting rooms, events and sales in already existing commercial areas in Timber Cove, Stewarts Point, Sea Ranch, Gualala, Jenner, Duncan’s Mills, Monte Rio and Bodega Bay.  {Important to note: Denying this permit would NOT deny the owner the ability to market their wine and their vineyard’s terroir!  Denying the permit would send the message to a misguided APPLICANT (and others just like him, County-wide) that tasting rooms need to be put in APPROPRIATE places in Sonoma County.  This is a VERY important distinction!  My impression is that this opposition group (myself included) is NOT NIMBY, is NOT anti-business, and largely supports businesses and the wine industry in our area!}

2. Visitor services, such as parks, campgrounds, inns and stores, on Highway One, focusing on our unique redwood coast and ocean ecosystems.

For any of you who live in the area your personal insights are equally important to state.

Thank you for your time and please get involved! Feel free to share this message with others who might support the cause.

Nancy Feehan, Shawn Harb and Kay Barnes representing

The Steering Committee-Fort Ross Tasting Room Opposition