from Sunday's letters to the Press Democrat:
A tipping point
EDITOR: Sonoma County is at a tipping point. The county’s general plan projected 239 wineries by 2020, but there are now 437 approved facilities and 60-plus applications pending. And these don’t include the large winery/cheese factory and brewery combinations proposed next to public parks, water recharge areas and two-lane rural highways.
The county’s tendency for approval has undermined the general plan as a public trust. This calls into question the accuracy of underlying technical analysis, often paid for by the owner requesting a permit or modification, resulting in unstudied cumulative impacts to road safety and water resources.
In the Sonoma Valley alone, neighbors have seen a gridlock increase in commuter traffic. There are multiple wineries and resorts permitted along Highway 12 that have yet to be built, and there is a corporate movement to purchase and expand our local, small wineries.
Kenwood Winery was recently purchased by Pernod Richard, a huge international wine and spirits corporation. It has asked for a new use permit and an event center that will allow up to 70,000 people to attend multiple events at holidays, harvest times and for industry-wide tastings. And this is only one winery.
LINDA HALE Glen Ellen
