Daniel Mufson | Dec 17, 2014

I think we have reached a critical mass: Sparks of great conversationalist insight from up and down the county are becoming more frequent and focused. We are all promoting an objective analysis of how to protect our watersheds.

Several of us were at the Planning Commission meeting this morning and heard the commissioners and staff talk in terms of a "new normal" and "given the climate we're in today requires a careful look [at the facts]" which tactically acknowledges our efforts to scrutinize the many projects from many points of view. Morrison is planning to hold a meeting with the Supervisors and Planning Commissions early next year to discuss and then sharpen the rules and regs to allow more objective project approval. He cited two recent examples where there was great outcry about Yountville Hills and the Chrome Rabbit but no clear guidance that allowed staff to reject these.

We need to be ready for those discussions to add our input. Surely the organized wine interests will be there in force with their lobbyists. We need to list and prioritize our interests. I'm attaching a list for your consideration:

AWOS: how do we make watersheds more important as the best use of the land over ag?
How do we get a moratorium?
WDO
WAA
CAP
Viewshed ordinance - should apply to views from public open space
How do we establish a Mandatory Oak Woodlands Management Program?
Compliance with existing regs (if 40% of self-audited wineries are out of compliance with their permits what does that portend for all of the wineries?)

From our conversations and emails it is obvious that we all want to meet in January. We will do that. In the mean time, keep those cards and letters flowing. And for a little more motivation, I'm attaching this tragic photo, entitled, "Gravestones for a forest" by Duane Cronk of Angwin along with his message. Those piles are the chipped trees cleared for the vineyard!
treegravestones.jpg

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Carl Bunch writes:

Let's not forget that while watersheds are critically important issues,and will most certainly attract the attention of the general public, other issues raised by the WALT ranch project (a poster child for avarice and disregard of neighbors' other citizens) and similar projects are also very, very important, singularly or collectively, (the deforestation of the hillsides, traffic and construction noise and other interferences with daily life, wildlife habitat and plant harm, erosion, etc., etc., etc.) and need to be given substantial and current attention so that everyday citizens of the Napa Valley come to realize that the County's decision-makers ie. the Planning Department and Commission and the Board of Supervisors) must give thoughtful consideration to these matters (all of which can reasonably be categorized as critical to the maintenance of the Ag Preserve and our "Napa Valley lifestyle''). This may mean, for these decision-makers, that hard decisions will need to be made and that it will no longer be adequate to simply engage in "business as usual".

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Patricia Damery writes:

We were just in with Planning yesterday inquiring about the extensiveness of our neighbor's plans to enlarge a winery (Anthem Winery) and deforest a good bit of our hillside. The planner we met with said that they have a lot to answer for, but if they do, there are no directives to stop this kind of activity. He seemed upset by this, also stating that if they want a commercial winery, why buy land on this hillside because it is beautiful and then proceed to build extensive caves, cut trees, and commercialize what has been an essentially a residential neighborhood. But he also said that currently, if they meet the requirements, it is not his call. This is such a critical time to work ti form larger policy which protects nature, basically, from ignorance and greed.

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Charlotte Williams writes:

Spoke with Dan Mufson, David Heitzman, and Lisa at the break in the PC meeting on Wednesday. They suggested it [citizen summit]. David Hallett said by mid January as there are a lot of issues on the county agendas in Feb and March. Sandy Ericson also commented to me in an email that a summit is coming.

Sounds like developing our own agenda would be a good idea. A way for the many groups up and down the valley (and into the hills) to meet, coordinate, find those commonalities that Patrick Porgans said were crucial to moving forward, with environmental protections at the least.

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