FW: NCTimes-Sifuentes: Region: Decision on tap for 'boutique' wineries

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From: <char.ayers@att.net>
Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:11:32 +0000
To: Charlene Ayers <char.ayers@att.net>
Subject: NCTimes-Sifuentes: Region: Decision on tap for 'boutique' wineries

Saturday, April 19, 2008
Last modified Friday, April 18, 2008 12:26 PM PDT


REGION: Decision on tap for 'boutique' wineries

By EDWARD SIFUENTES - Staff Writer

County supervisors are scheduled to decide Wednesday whether small wineries that want to offer tasting rooms will be required to pay for expensive building permits.

Winemakers in the Ramona area say that requiring them to pay for the permits and environmental studies to open tasting rooms would dash their hopes of reviving their once-booming industry.

County officials have been struggling to find a compromise between vintners and their neighbors to create an ordinance that will allow "boutique" wineries to open tasting rooms without having to pay for the studies, which can cost more than $40,000.

In their recommendation to the supervisors, county planners said the ordinance should require winery operators to pay for environmental impact reports.

Despite those recommendations, the county Planning Commission, in a split vote on April 4, sided with winemakers and ruled environmental studies weren't necessary. It will be up to the supervisors to make the final decision.

Carolyn Harris, a member of the Ramona Valley Vineyards Association, said that if winemakers are required to produce an environmental study to open a tasting room, few could afford to do so.

"I don't think you're going to see too many major-use permits" to build tasting rooms, Harris said Friday. "I can guarantee you that."

The supervisors meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday at the county administration building in San Diego.

Contact staff writer Edward Sifuentes at (760) 740-3511 or esifuentes@nctimes.com.


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