The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors will consider possible approaches to developing an ordinance to regulate vineyard planting on steep slopes at its next meeting, August 15 at 9:00 a.m. at the County Center in Redwood City.
The Guild recently received a copy of a memo from the County Counsel (see link below) containing recommendations and strategies for the Supervisors to use in pursuing a vineyard ordinance. The Guild also received a draft of the proposed Agricultural Awareness Ordinance (see link below)—formerly known as the Right to Farm Ordinance—on which Supervisor Richard Gordon is seeking comments.
A primary concern raised by the Vineyard Ordinance memo is County Counsels' opinion that "any option for approach and process would not impact the Clos de la Tech project." While the Board of Supervisors may choose to "grandfather" existing projects, they must decide to do so (and presumably have supportable reasons for making such a choice). In addition, since the County currently does not regulate vineyard planting, the vineyard portion of the Clos de la Tech project cannot be considered "in the pipeline."
Please review these important documents, and either plan to attend the meeting on August 15 or send your written comments in support of our watershed to the Board of Supervisors.
Letters to the Supervisors can be mailed to:
San Mateo Board of Supervisors
400 County Center
Redwood City, CA 94063
Or you may send e-mail to individual members of the Board of Supervisors at the following addresses:
mchurch@co.sanmateo.ca.us
jhill@co.sanmateo.ca.us
rgordon@co.sanmateo.ca.us
rosejg@co.sanmateo.ca.us
atissier@co.sanmateo.ca.us
Download the Vineyard Ordinance Memo and proposed Agricultural Awareness Ordinance below.
