SVCAC wants more info on Anderson winery
The Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Commission (SVCAC) told developer Darius Anderson that his application for a 10,000 case winery was incomplete, and that more information was needed before the commission could make any recommendation on the project to county planners.
Anderson, a well-known lobbyist, investor, and developer, wants to build a winery with public tasting at 10420 Sonoma Highway, right next to the Kenwood Inn & Spa. Anderson, who lives with his family in Sonoma, first bought the 76-acre property in 1999. The project would be placed on the lower 25-acre parcel, near the highway.
Anderson’s application to the county for a use permit also asks for 25 special events. Access to the winery from the east would be from the current left turn lane into the Kenwood Inn & Spa, a major topic of conversation at the SVCAC’s Aug. 25 meeting.
Anderson has yet to work out an arrangement with the Kenwood Inn & Spa, which is complicated by a number of easements, some of which were agreed to by Anderson and the previous inn owner, Terry Grimm. The Kenwood Inn & Spa is now owned by Seattle-based Columbia Hospitality.
Egress and ingress from the proposed entrance would take vehicles to and from the winery via a road parallel to the highway.
At the SVCAC meeting, the Kenwood Inn & Spa’s David DiLoreto, said that an easement that would allow access at that point is problematic and may not be consistent with the easement’s legal intention.
DiLoreto said he is not opposed to a winery, but that the proposed access is, “just not a great solution.” DiLoreto said he was willing to work with Anderson to come up with a solution that would “better serve (Anderson’s) needs and not burden the easement.”
A traffic study that was submitted by Anderson to the county was criticized as being inadequate by public speakers and commissioners alike, in part because it didn’t include a cumulative traffic analysis.
The proposed winery would include a 5,900 square foot building that would contain space for a public tasting room, barrel storage, blending, and offices. There would also be space to display some of Anderson’s vast collection of Jack London memorabilia.
The wine would be crushed and bottled elsewhere, which gave rise to an issue the SVCAC has been discussing at previous meetings – whether some of the currently proposed winery projects are more event centers than actual wineries tied to agriculture.
“Where’s the winery?” said SVCAC commissioner Gary Baker. “This is a barrel room that you will do tasting out of.”
Anderson does have over eight acres of cabernet grapes on the property, but grapes from other locations will have to be used to make 10,000 cases.
Most of the commissioners said that there was just not enough information at the present time to decide if they were for or against the project.
“There are too many unanswered questions,” said SVCAC commissioner Clarence Jenkins. “When it’s more complete, we’d like to see it again.”
SVCAC commissioner and Kenwood resident Rochelle Campagna, though, said that residents she has spoken with, “don’t really want another tasting room.”
“It’s like we’re living in a wine tasting ghetto. We have enough tasting rooms,” said Campagna.
At the meeting, Anderson said he has been meeting with neighbors and community groups about the project, and wants as much public input on the proposal as possible. He said he knew that the application was incomplete but that he was encouraged to file by the county planner assigned to the project in order to avoid a hike in filing fees. Any additional studies, meetings with CalTrans, negotiations with the Kenwood Inn & Spa, etc. will all be done, said Anderson.
Anderson has arranged a public walk-through of the property for Sept. 18 at 10 a.m. Everyone in the community is invited to attend.
A copy of the SVCAC agenda and the Anderson proposal may be downloaded here.
Editor & Publisher
Email: alec@kenwoodpress.com
