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Mountain Winery draft EIR is now available for comment
By Kara Chalmers
A consultant hired by Santa Clara County has prepared a draft environmental-impact report (EIR) for the Mountain Winery, which the public may review in the county planning department, Saratoga's planning department, and the Saratoga and Los Gatos libraries.
The EIR is for the winery's conditional-use permit and architectural and site approval applications, which winery officials filed with the county in March and September, respectively, because part of the winery is on unincorporated county land.
The county prepared the EIR as part of its review of the winery's applications, to inform decision-makers and the public of the potential effects resulting from the proposed permit and approval, and to provide background and analysis, according to winery project planning manager Kristine Syskowski.
If granted, the use permit would legalize the events, such as concerts, theatrical events and receptions, that have gone on at the winery since the 1950s. Although previous owners never obtained a use permit, current owners said they want to secure one before they do any planning for the winery's expansion. The use permit would not allow any new uses of the winery.
Winery officials have no set plans for expansion, but they are proposing to increase the number of seats in the concert bowl by about 750, which may require reconfiguration of the bowl. Other proposed winery improvements include new bungalows for performers and relocation of the primary kitchen. The design of these improvements has not yet been determined.
If the use permit and site approval are approved, no major changes would occur right away since winery officials would have to go through an architecture and site approval again when they decide on expansion designs.
"What this is meant to do is legalize all the existing uses and analyze possible impact of a future expansion," said county planner John Davidson. "But they are not planning to expand the bowl at this point."
As of Nov. 1, the publication date of the EIR, the public will have 45 days to comment on it by writing to the county planning department or commenting orally at a public hearing Dec 2. The county planning commission will consider the permit at the Dec. 2 comment hearing, but it will take no action at that point. The final day for the public to comment on the draft EIR is Dec. 15.
Last month, Mountain Winery part-owner Bill Hirschman and winery officials held a public meeting to let neighbors of the winery know how the permit process was going. Hirschman and Syskowski continue to have small monthly meetings with nearby residents to gather suggestions.
The hearing on the draft EIR is Dec. 2 at 1:30 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors' chambers at 70 W. Hedding St. in San Jose. Direct any correspondence to John Davidson, county planner, at the above address, or call 408.299.2454 ext. 232.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
