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Letters
Enthusiasts have reached out to Mountain Winery
On March 15, the Saratoga News ran an article about the Mountain Winery. And while the News did a very credible job of reporting the viewpoints of the opposing sides, there is one problem--the Mountain Winery did not tell the Saratoga News the truth.
The article, referring to statements attributed to Nancy Bussani, president of the Mountain Winery, stated, "Bussani said the trail enthusiasts have not approached winery officials."
The truth is that the Trail Enthusiasts (a community-based, all-volunteer organization whose purpose is to ensure the implementation of the Trails Master Plan) have been in continuing contact with the Mountain Winery officials since last spring. When my wife (who currently heads the Saratoga Trail Enthusiasts) and I heard about the first neighborhood meeting (organized by the Mountain Winery) in the spring of 1999, we attended. We put our names, address, and phone number on the sign-up sheet and participated in the two-hour discussion.
We offered our continuing help with the winery's permit process. We also offered to work with the winery to find ways to minimize the impact of the winery's operation on the residents of Saratoga. We expressed our interest in seeing the project prosper and become a "good neighbor" to Saratoga. Unfortunately, we also mentioned our interest in trails. We were not invited back or notified of any subsequent meetings.
Moreover, the Mountain Winery heard our written and oral comments at the EIR hearing in December 1999. We were present at the Good Government Group meeting in January when Nancy Bussani spoke. We questioned Ms. Bussani about trails and explained to her the community's interest in trails.
We specifically asked her if the Mountain Winery was willing to grant the trail easements (shown on the county and city master plans) voluntarily. She explained that the Mountain Winery was considering the issue but hadn't taken a final position yet.
We provided over 50 written comments (dealing with trail issues) in response to the Draft EIR. We attended, along with 8 or 10 other people, the EIR hearing and supported the project; but we requested that the Mountain Winery mitigate its impact on the residents of Saratoga. Issues of noise, pollution, traffic, and trails have not been adequately addressed.
The day before the hearing on the final EIR, the Trail Enthusiasts were told (in a telephone conversation) by a representative of the Mountain Winery that the Mountain Winery "intended" to consider the possibility of a "floating easement" for some future trail easement provided that certain future conditions were met. When asked if the Mountain Winery would put it in writing; the answer was no.
James Baron
Saratoga Resident and Trail Enthusiast
Via Escuela
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
