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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10242006 - D.5 PROOF OF PUBLICATION O (2015.5 C.C.P.) . STATE OF CALIFORNIA County of Contra Costa I am a citizen of the United States and a resident of the County aforesaid; I am over the age of eighteen years, and not a party to or interested in the above-entitled matter. I am the Principal Legal Clerk of the Contra Costa Times, a newspaper of general circulation, printed and published at 2640 Shadelands Drive in the City of Walnut Creek, County of Contra Costa, 94598. And which newspaper has been adjudged a newspaper of general circulation by the Superior Court of the County of Contra Costa, State of California, under the date of October 22, 1934. Case Number 19764. The notice, of which the annexed is a printed copy (set in type not smaller than nonpareil), has been published in each regular and entire issue of said newspaper and not in any supplement thereof on the following dates, to-wit: Oct 14, all in the year of 2006 1 certify (or declare) under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Execute "at Walnut G�eTc, California. On this/ day o October, 2006 ...............................................................................: Signature Contra Costa Times P O Box 4147 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 (925) 935-2525 Proof of Publication of: (attached is a copy of the legal advertisement that published) NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON PLANNING MATTERS LIVERMORE AREA NOTICE is hereby given that on Tuesday October 24,2006 at 1:15 p.m.in the County Administration Building, 651 Pine Street, Room 107(Corner of Pine and Escobar Streets), Martinez, California, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing to consider the following planning matter. Appeal by BRUCE and DALE SPRINGER, (Appli- cants&Owners)*County File#LP042118;of the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission's action denying special events in conjunction with the approval of the Land Use Permit for a winery and olive oil mill, on an approximately 23 acre property located at 1090 Victorine Road,west side, north of Highland Road, Tassajara/North Livermore Area, (A-80) (ZA:W-22M)(CT:3551.03) (Parcel 006.180-019). The location of the sub- ject property is within the unincorporated territory of the County of Contra Costa County, State of California,generally iden- tified below(a more pre- cise description may be examined in the Office of the Director of Communi- ty Development, County Administration Building, Martinez,California): The location of the sub- ject site is 1090 Victorine Road,Livermore. For purposes of compli- ance with the provisions of the California Environ- mental Quality Act (CEQA),a Mitigated Nega- tive Declaration of Envi- ronmental Significance (no Environmental Impact Report required) has been issued for this proj- ect. If you challenge the proj- ect in court,you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing descri- bed in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the County at,or prior to,the public hearing. Prior to the hearing,Com- munity Development De- partment staff will be available on Tuesday,Oc- tober 24, 2006, in Room 108,Administration Build- ing,651 Pine Street,Mar- tinez,to meet with any in- terested parties In order to (1) answer questions; (2) review the hearing procedures used by the Board; (3) clarify the is- sues being considered by the Board; and (4) pro- vide an opportunity to identify, resolve or nar- row any differences which remain in dispute. If you wish to attend this meeting with staff,please call Mike Henn,Commun- ity Development Depart- ment,at(925)335-1205 by 3:00 P.m.on Monday,Oc- tober 23,2006 to confirm your participation. Date:October 10,2006 John Cullen,Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and County Administrator By Katherine Sinclair, Deputy Clerk Legal CCT 6872 Publish October 14,2006 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ��f = Contra FROM: DENNIS M. BARRY, AICP �` Costa COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR �o.;._. , .:.�r` County r ' C'011`1� DATE: OCTOBER 24, 2006 SUBJECT: HEARING ON AN APPEAL BY BRUCE AND DALE SPRINGER OF THE SAN RAMON VALLEY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION'S DECISION TO DENY SPECIAL EVENTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LAND USE PERMIT FOR A WINERY AND OLIVE OIL MILL AT 1090 VICTORINE ROAD IN THE TASSAJARA AREA, BRUCE AND DALE SPRINGER(APPELLANTS AND OWNERS)(COUNTY FILE LP042118) (A-80) (Parcel 006-180-019) (District III) SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION I. RECOMMENDATIONS: A.. OPEN the public hearing and accept testimony; B. ADOPT the Negative Declaration prepared for the project finding that it is adequate and was prepared consistent with State and County CEQA Guidelines; C. UPHOLD the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission's approval of the land use permit with conditions that prohibit special events and DENY the appeal by Dale and Bruce Springer; CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON z2 5eUd O R VOTE OF SUPERVISORS 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND _UNANIMOUS(ABSENT CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND AYES: . NOES: ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF ABSENT: ABSTAIN: SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN Contact: Michael Henn (925)335-1205 ATTESTED cc:. Community Development Department d � Mr. and Mrs. Springer Mr.and Mrs.Wright JOHN CULLEN, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF Ms. Leonardini SUPERVISO S AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY, , DEPUTY October 24, 2006 Board of Supervisors File#LP042118 Page 2 D. ADOPT the findings of the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission as contained in Resolution 22-2006 as the basis of the decision; E. DIRECT the Community Development Department to file a Notice of Determination with the County Clerk. II. FISCAL IMPACT: The applicant is responsible for the cost of processing the use permit request. III. BACKGROUND / REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS: Bruce and Dale Springer,the project owners and applicants, applied for a land use permit to operate a winery and olive oil mill including a tasting room and retail sales on a 23-acre parcel located on Victorine Road, east of Tassajara Road. All buildings proposed to be a part of the project are existing. The applicant's proposal included up to 50 special events (e.g. weddings, receptions) each year. In July 2005, the Zoning Administrator approved the land use permit for the winery and olive oil mill, conditioning the project to prohibit special events. The Zoning Administrator's approval was appealed by the applicants to the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission who heard the matter three times, on October 19, 2005, April 19, 2006 and June 21, 2006, at which time the Commission, by a 5 to 2 vote, denied the appeal and upheld the Zoning Administrator's action. Although the original appeal dealt with three conditions of approval,two minor appeal points dealing with sight- distance and landscaping were resolved. On June 23, 2006, the applicant appealed the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission's decision. APPEAL ISSUES: Appeal Point - The appellants believe that the special events use would not be a nuisance and is a normal and financially necessary part of the winery/olive oil mill operation. Staff Response: In prohibiting special events as part of the land use permit, the Zoning Administrator found that the project could create a potential nuisance and/or enforcement problem within the neighborhood or community. While holding special events is among the uses that might be considered in approving a winery and/or olive oil mill, there is the understanding that such activities should only occur on sites well-suited for handling larger amounts of traffic and without adversely impacting adjacent residences. Although the area is characterized by large-acreage ranch parcels, there is a cluster of houses in relatively close proximity to one another near the subject property, and Victorine Road is only 16 feet wide; October 24, 2006 Board of Supervisors File# LP042118 Page 3 . The following is the relevant excerpt from the adopted Development Guidelines for Wineries and Olive Oil Mills which deals with special events: Special Events:Allow for use of winery facilities for a limited number of special events such as weddings, fundraisers;anniversaries, winemaker dinners, orsimilar events, subject to the limitations on the number of days and hours as defined in the land use permit. The applicant fora land use permit shall identify the number of special events that would occur during a typical year, the days for special events (weekday or weekend), the duration and hours for special events, and the maximum size of special events (number of persons expected to attend), when requesting permission to conduct special events at the winery(olive oil mill) as part of the land use permit. The determination on granting special events in conjunction with the land use permit shall be based in part on public safety considerations, including access and parking, compatibility with nearby agricultural operations, and community disruption, such as noise or traffic congestion. The intention is to allow a limited number and size of special events, which are not injurious to public safety, not incompatible with nearby agricultural operations, and not disruptive to the community, in winery locations that are appropriate for holding special events. The San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission found the same difficulty as the Zoning Administrator in allowing special events at this particular location. The clear majority of the immediate area residents, who testified at the public hearings or who wrote letters, were opposed to the special events but were willing to accept the winery and olive oil mill including the tasting room and retail sales. Appeal Point- The appellants believe that the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission misunderstood the appellant's position regarding how many special events were necessary for the use to be financially profitable. The proposed 50 per year was not an absolute minimum and the appellants were quite willing to be flexible with a lesser number. Staff Response - Staff understands that a range of number for special events was presented and discussed, and that it was understood that the appellant was desirous of being granted a larger number but might accept less. However, the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission took action on the matter after testimony from several neighbors over three meetings. Staff does not believe that the Commission misunderstood the appellants' position. Several commissioners also expressed concern with the difficulty of policing the number of special events. October 24, 2006 Board of Supervisors File# LP042118 Page 4 IV. CONCLUSION: The Zoning Administrator and the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission found the requested special events have the potential to be a nuisance in the particular context of the subject property. Therefore, in order to make the required findings to approve the land use permit, the project was conditioned to eliminate the proposed special events while allowing the remaining portion of the project to be established. The applicant has not provided any substantive information that would alter the findings of the Zoning Administrator or the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission. Staff recommends that the Commission's decision be upheld and that the land use permit be approved with the conditions that prohibit special events. G:CurrentPlanning\StaffReports\LP042118BdOrd D.5 10/24/06 ADDENDUM HEARING on an appeal by Bruce and Dale Springer of the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission's decision to deny special events in conjunction with the approval of the land use permit for a winery and olive oil mill located at 1090 Victorine Road in the north Livermore area. Aruna Bhat, Community Development Department, presented the staff report. The Chair invited the public to comment. The following persons spoke: Bruce Springer(appellant),- Judy appellant);Judy Wright, resident of Victorine Road; Edwin Wright, resident of Victorine Road; Bill Armer resident of Victorine Road; Linda Leonardini, resident of Victorine Road; Margaret Leonardini, resident of Victorine Road; Russell Leonardini, resident of Victorine Road; Bill Muzzocco, resident of Danville, (homebuilder on Victorine Road); At each of the six Planning Commission meeting, requests were made for site plans on proposed events. The staff noted the proposed amendments to the permit conditions by the appellants have not been available prior to this hearing. The Board discussed with staff the process of amending permit conditions. The Zoning Administrator noted that should an application be filed, he would refer the matter immediately to the San Ramon Valley Planning Commission for expediency and to save the applicant fee charges. Having discussed the matter,the Board APPROVED the recommendations, the denial to be a DENIAL WITHOUT PREJUDICE. RESOLUTION Resolution No. 22-2006 RESOLUTION OF THE SAN RAMON VALLEY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, REGARDING THE APPEAL OF BRUCE AND DALE SPRINGER OF LAND USE PERMIT, COUNTY FILE LP#042118, BRUCE AND DALE SPRINGER (APPLICANTS & OWNERS), VICTORINE ROAD IN THE TASSAJARA/NORTH LIVERMORE AREA. WHEREAS, On November 15, 2004, Bruce and Dale Springer filed an application with the Community Development Department for a winery and olive oil mill on Victorine Road in the A-80 district in the Tassajara/North Livermore area; and WHEREAS, the Community Development Department has determined that based on an Initial Study the proposed project would not have potentially significant impacts on the environment. A notice regarding the proposed adoption of a Negative Declaration was posted and distributed in conformance with the CEQA Guidelines Section 15072; and WHEREAS, notice of the public hearing having been lawfully given, the Zoning Administrator held a hearing on June 20, 2005 which was continued to July 11, 2005 at which time the Zoning Administrator after finding that the Negative Declaration was adequate found the proposal to be consistent with the General Plan and that the required findings for the parking lot paving variance could be made, approved LP042118 for the winery and olive oil mill without special events; and WHEREAS, the Zoning Administrator's action regarding three conditions of approval pertaining to special events, sight-distance and landscaping was duly appealed by Bruce and Dale Springer on July 19, 2005, and that matter was then scheduled for action by the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission for September 21, 2005, and continued at the appellants' request to October 19, 2005, when a public hearing was held and public testimony was taken, and then continued to November 16, 2005, and then continued at the appellants' request to February 8, 2006, and then again continued at the appellants' request to April 19, 2006 at which time a public hearing was held and testimony was taken, and then the matter was continued to June 21, 2006, when public testimony was taken; and WHEREAS, notice of the hearing having been lawfully given for the public hearings, the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission considered comments from the appellants who were.the project applicants, and from members of the public who wished to speak both for and against the appeal; and WHEREAS, the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission having fully reviewed, considered, and evaluated all the testimony, evidence and comments submitted in this matter; and whereas the Commission determined that the required findings could be made for the land use permit and variance to the parking lot surfacing, that the appeal points dealing with sight-distance and landscaping were resolved or withdrawn, and that the findings for the land 1 use permit and variance could be made, except that the findings could not be made for allowing special events as an accessory use to the winery and olive oil mill, as follows: A. Growth Management Performance Standards 1. Traffic: The project primarily occurring on weekends will not generate a significant level of additional AM and PM peak hour trips. Therefore, the applicant is not required to prepare a traffic report pursuant to the 1988 Measure C requirements. 2. Drainage and Flood Control: The structures and driveways for the project are existing. Therefore there will not be an increase in impervious surface and runoff. 3. Water and Waste Disposal: The existing buildings were approved with a private septic system and private well water system with approval of the Environmental Health Services Division. Conditions of approval require that the winery and olive oil mill uses will require additional approval of the Environmental Health Services Division prior to the commencement of use. 4. Fire Protection: The site is in the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District and must comply with requirements of the District. Since the project site does not lie within the 1-1/2 mile requirement, sprinkler systems have been required. 5. Public Protection: The Growth Management Element Standard is 155 square feet of Sheriff facility station per 1,000 population. The proposed non-residential use would not cause an increase in population. The Sheriff's Department has not objected to the proposed use. 6. Parks & Recreation: The proposed project will not have an effect on demand for park and recreation facilities. The existing single family residence has paid the appropriate Park Dedication Fee. 7. Schools: The proposed project will not have an effect on the school district. B. Land Use Permit 1. The proposed winery and olive oil mill project will not be detrimental to the health, safety and general welfare of the county. The proposed winery and olive oil mill, as approved, meets all the setback requirements of the A-80 zoning (parking variance granted) and the Health Services Department has indicated that a private sewage system is acceptable. The Public Works Department is satisfied with the drainage proposed and traffic aspects of the project. They have not responded adversely regarding a sight distance problem at the driveway entrance. 2 The approval of special events for large groups with outdoor eating areas and amplified sound would have an adverse effect on nearby neighbors which would not be consistent with the general welfare of the county. 2. The proposed project will not adversely affect the orderly development of property within the county. The proposed project, as conditioned, meets all the setback and parking requirements of the A-80 zoning district and will not adversely affect the orderly development of property within the County because it is of a scale and nature consistent with the intent of the General Plan and A-80 zone. However, the approval of special events for large groups with outdoor eating areas and amplified sound would have an adverse effect on nearby neighbors which would not encourage orderly development. Though the property is zoned A-80 and requires a minimum lot size of 80 acres, the subject property and surrounding area contain several parcels significantly smaller than 80 acres (20-25 acres). 3. The proposed project will not adversely affect the preservation of property values and the protection of the tax base within the county. The proposed winery and olive oil mill, subject to the recommended conditions of approval, will produce a winery and olive oil mill and accessory parking lot that would not adversely affect property values within the existing neighborhood. The approval of special events for large groups with outdoor eating areas and amplified sound will have an adverse effect on nearby neighbors which may adversely affect property values in the area. 4. The proposed project will not adversely affect the policy and goals as set by the General Plan. The General Plan provides for the continued use of the property for agricultural production. By adopting the Development Guidelines for Wineries and Olive Oil Mills the Board of Supervisors has found that wineries and olive oil mills were an appropriate means to protect and enhance the economic viability of the agricultural lands of Contra Costa County. 5. The proposed project will not create a nuisance and/or enforcement problem within the neighborhood or community. The proposed project will create a small-scale winery and olive oil mill on a 23 acre parcel. The peak traffic generation times will occur at what are generally the periods with low traffic levels. Parking provided exceeds the Zoning Ordinance requirements. Properly conditioned and maintained the use will not create an enforcement problem. 3 The San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission found that allowing special events at this location would be disruptive to the community and could create a potential nuisance because there are several homes in close proximity to the site which would be adversely impacted by the holding of special events because of excessive noise and traffic on a relatively narrow road with areas of poor sight-distance, concurring with the finding made by the Zoning Administrator. Increased traffic and amplified outdoor sound would have a high probability of causing a nuisance and enforcement problem within the immediate neighborhood of the subject property. 6. The proposed project as conditioned will not encourage marginal development. The proposed project, as conditioned, will not encourage marginal development, as the proposed winery and olive oil mill are attractive and generally consistent with other buildings found throughout the area. The attractiveness of the property will require proper maintenance and quality landscaping. The landscaping plan provides for a dense planting along the north side of the property to protect the views and privacy of an adjacent single family residence. The approval of special events for large groups with outdoor eating areas and amplified sound would have an adverse effect on nearby neighbors which could make the properties less desirable and thus encourage marginal development. 7. That special conditions or unique characteristics of the subject property and its location or surroundings are established. The subject site is large enough to accommodate the proposed winery and olive oil mill use. However, due to its location off a narrow, winding road and the proximity of residential uses, the property is not suited for special events. 8. Additional Findings Required for a New Alcohol Beverage Sales Commercial Activity (a) A finding of"public convenience and necessity" (Business and Professions Code Section 23958.4(b)(2)), if the activity will be located in an area that has been determined by the State of California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to have an undue concentration of licenses as defined in Business and Professions Code Section 23958.4(a). The finding is not required because the property is not located in an area with an undue concentration of alcohol licenses, and is not located in an area with an excessive amount of crime. (b) A finding that-the alcoholic beverage sales commercial activity will not aggravate existing problems in the neighborhood created by the sale of alcohol such as loitering, public drunkenness, alcoholic beverage sales to minors, noise and littering. (Ord. 2002-33 § 2). 4 There are no existing problems in the neighborhood because of loitering and public drunkenness, noise or litter. The conditions of approval will allow for revocation of the Land Use Permit for alcohol sales if the indicated nuisances were to occur. C. Approval of Variances 1. Required Finding; That any variance authorized shall not constitute a grant of special privilege inconsistent with the limitations on other properties in the vicinity and the respective land use district in which the subject property is located. Wineries and olive oil mills are largely a `fair-weather" activity. Staff has looked at agricultural uses in Contra Costa County and at other small wineries in the Livermore and Pleasanton areas and found that gravel parking lots are fairly normal for this use. Therefore the use of a graveled parking lot would not be a grant of special privilege. The parking standards section of the Zoning Ordinance was primarily written for urban-area commercial parking lots which need to be available throughout the year. A Public Works Department condition of approval will require that the entry driveway be paved for approximately 50 feet into the lot to prevent the tracking out of gravel onto the public roadway. 2. Required Finding_ That because of special circumstances applicable to the subject property because of its size, shape, topography, location or surroundings, the strict application of the respective zoning regulations is found to deprive the subject property of rights enjoyed by other properties in the vicinity and within the identical land use district. Wineries are largely a `fair-weather" activity. However, the parking standards section of the Zoning Ordinance was primarily written for urban-area commercial parking lots which need to be available throughout the year. A Public Works Department condition of approval will require that the entry driveway be paved for approximately 50 feet into the lot to prevent the tracking out of gravel,onto the public roadway. Requiring the paving of the parking lot would deprive the project of the rural ambience appropriate to the rustic atmosphere of wineries and olive oil mills. 3. Required Finding:. That any variance authorized shall substantially meet the intent and purpose of the respective land use district in which the subject property is located. The intent of the A-80 zoning district is to protect and enhance continued agricultural activity. Allowing a winery and olive oil mill with a gravel parking lot will promote the intended agricultural use. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission, at its meeting of June 21, 2006, by a 5-2 vote, denied the appeal point regarding special events, modified the requirement regarding landscaping near the northern property line, eliminated Condition of Approval No. 23 regarding sight-distance, and sustained the Zoning 5 Administrator's action in approving LP042118 without allowing special events subject to conditions of approval as modified during that hearing. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission will sign and attest the certified copy of this resolution and deliver the same to the Board of Supervisors, all in accordance with the Government Code of the State of California, AYES: Commissioners Gibson, Matsunaga, Neely, McPherson and Bowlby NOES: Commissioners Couture and Mulvihill ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Neil Matsunaga, Chairman San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission County of Contra Costa, State of California On June 23, 2006, the Community Development Department received an appeal of the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission's action on the project from Bruce and Dale Springer. ATTEST: C6�4� r DENNIS M. BARRY, Secretary San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission County of Contra Costa County, State of California StaffReports:lp042118 SRV RPCReso22-2006 6 k Ul th o`er Ul Ma 77, Aj J Y �t3= N,,;%'N' k '* f/ Z =f 1' C O • t+ MC1 �Y 1k S! �o�n l t"`'4LQ` t ' ✓G�� � i. ! �T,s. o-Z o2S Zn lu " ----_..._���"` ;a � ,� .e ��:. i; cv amu►. O Z ct 111 to CL i S -4, 0091,900 r 4 K 4 } ��^�- ✓ ; r�K� _;. �_ _ 1^I4 Com. ,. � . . ,, w "�� _. vilili� �� � 1111 �,y a"+.... Jf! .... a �` �� ���� �� i z } [[ t , .. ._. - � -,. � ..-��.J � T,�y� ., - � � �4 .,� ,.. [ _ a.. ci ��. •: �� �'�� - - a _ _ �2. '� - � - � .: � � . �n � _ �. '� ��� - _ ,x CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL (SHOWING REVISIONS BY SAN RAMON VALLEY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION ON JUNE 219 2006) FINDINGS AND CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR THE PROPOSED WINERY FACILITY LP042118, DALE AND BRUCE SPRINGER, APPLICANTS AND OWNERS, PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1090 VICTORINE ROAD IN THE NORTH LIVERMORE AREA AS APPROVED BY THE SAN RAMON. VALLEY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION BOARD OF APPEALS ON JUNE 21, 2006 FINDINGS A. Growth Management Performance Standards 1. Traffic - (Refer to Detailed Policies and Standards in the Growth Management Element of the General Plan). The project will not generate more than 100 peak period trips, thus no special traffic generation study is warranted. 2. Water - The County pursuant to its police power and as the proper governmental entity responsible for directly regulating land use density or intensity, property development and the subdivision of property within the unincorporated areas of the County, shall require new development to demonstrate that adequate water quantity,and quality,can be provided. At the project approval stage, the County may consult .with the appropriate water agency. The County, based on . information furnished or available to it from consultations with the appropriate water agency, the applicant or other sources, should determine whether (1) capacity exists within the water system if a development project is built within a set period of time, or (2) capacity will be provided by a funded program or other mechanism. Project approvals conditioned on (1) or (2) above, will lapse according to their terms if not satisfied.by verification that capacity exists to serve the specific project ("will serve letters"), actual hook-ups or comparable evidence of adequate water quantity and quality availability. The facility uses well water and would continue to do so. Prior to the commencement of use an approval shall be obtained from the Health Services Department that the water supply is adequate for the proposed use. The applicant shall bear all expenses associated with constructing a water system capable of meetingthe fire flow and water quality requirements of the Health services Department and the fire protection district. Additionally a'condition of approval provides for a requirement to provide a hydro-geological study to protect other properties from over-drafting of the local aquifer.. i 3. Sanitary Sewer - The County pursuant to its police power and as the proper governmental entity, responsible. for directly regulating land use density or intensity, property development and the subdivision of property within the unincorporated areas of the County, shall require new development to demonstrate that adequate sanitary sewer quantity and quality can .be provided. At the project approval stage, the County may consult with the appropriate sewer agency. The County, based on information furnished or available to it from consultations with the appropriate sewer agency, the applicant or other sources, should determine whether (1) capacity exists within the sewer system if, a S-2 development project is.built within:a set period of Aime, or, (2) capacity will be . provided' by . a funded program ,,or other .'mechanism.. Project approvals conditioned on (1) or(2) above,will lapse according to their terms if not satisfied by verification that capacity exists to serve the specific project ("wily serve: letters"), actual hook-ups or comparable evidence of adequate sewage collection and wastewater treatment capacity availability. The County Health Services Department indicates that the facility must obtain an approval of the use relative to.the private sewerage Isystem proposed. The septic tank system. must be evaluated and found adequate for. the proposed uses combined with the existing" use prior to the issuance of a building permit or commencement of use. 4. Fire Protection - Fire stations"shall be located within one and'one-half miles of developments in urban, suburban and central business district areas. (Refer to' Figure 4-2, pg. 4-9, in the General Plan). Automatic fire sprinkler systems may be used to satisfy this standard. The condition would not apply in the case of an agricultural use outside of urban or suburban areas. The applicable,standards of the "San Ramon Valley" Fire, Protection District will apply. 5. Public Protection - A Sheriff facility.standard of 155 square feet of station area per 1,000 population shall-be maintained within the"unincorporated area of the County. The provision"of facilities for the Sheriff's Office is not applicable in the case of a commercial use in an agricultural district. However;.the approval is conditioned to limit the nature and size of special events, and, if found tobe,necessary, the Zoning Administrator may require that security officers/patrol person may be required. 6. Parks and Recreation - Neighborhood parks: 3 acres-`required per 1,000 population. The non-residential use is not subject to a park dedication requirement. 7. Flood Control-and Drainage - Require major new development to'finance the full costs of drainage improvements necessary to accommodate peak flows due to the project. Limit development within the 100 year flood plain until a flood management plan has been adopted-and implementation-is assured. For mainland areas along rivers and bays, it-must be demonstrated that adequate ,protection exists through levee protection or change of elevation.,prior to development. Development shall not be allowed in flood prone areas designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency until a risk assessment and other technical " studies have been performed, .The project has beenfound acceptable to the Public Works Department. S-3 B. Finding'Reguired for the Approval of a Land Use Permit The findings for approval of a Land Use Permit as provided by County Code Section 26- 2.2008 are as follows with staff responses: 1. The proposed project will not be detrimental to the health, safety and general welfare of the county.. The proposed project meets all the setback requirements of the A-80 zoning and the Health Services Department has indicated that the private water well and private sewage system must meet the requirements of the department. The Public Forks Department is satisfied with.the drainage proposed. The wine-tasting and retail sales of wine are customary and incidental accessory uses associated with a winery. 2. The proposed project as conditioned will not adversely affect the orderly development of property within the county. The proposed project meets all the setback and parking requirements of the A-80 zoning district and will not adversely affect the orderly development of property within the County because it is of a scale and nature consistent with the intent of the General Plan and A-80 zone. 3. The proposed project as conditioned will not adversely affect the preservation of property values and the protection of the tax base within the county. The proposed project, including alcohol sales, and subject to the recommended conditions of approval; will produce a winery building and accessory parking lot that would not adversely affect property values within the existing neighborhood. 4. The proposed project will not adversely affect the policy and goals as set by the general,plan. The General Plan anticipates the provision of ancillary agricultural uses in . the Agricultural Lands provided they are of a scale and nature appropriate to the long term goals of agricultural protection. 5. The proposed project will not create a nuisance and/or enforcement problem within the neighborhood or community. The proposed project will create a small-scale winery activity including alcohol sales on a 23-acre parcel. The peak traffic generation times will occur at what are generally the periods with low traffic levels. Parking provided exceeds the Zoning Ordinance requirements. As conditioned and properly maintained the use will not create an enforcement problem. S-4 6. The proposed project as conditioned will 'not encourage marginal development. Thep roposed project will not encourage marginal development, as the proposed wine tasting building is of an attractive design and generally consistent with other facilities found throughout, the area. , To further enhance the attractiveness of the property conditions of approval require approval and installation of quality landscaping. 7. That special conditions or unique characteristics of thesubject property and its location,orsurroundings are established. The subject site is large enough to accommodate the proposed use. Building locations. comply with the County General Plan Land .Use Designation and Zoning for the A-80 District. . I Additional Findings Required for a New Alcohol Beverage Sales Commercial Activity. (a) A finding of "public. convenience and necessity" (Business and Professions Code Section 23958.4(b)(2)), if the activity will be located in an area that has been determined by the State of California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to have an undue concentration of.licenses as defined in Business and Professions Code Section 23958.4(a). The finding is not required because the property is not located in an area with an undue concentration of alcohol licenses, and is not located in an area with an excessive amount of crime. (b) A finding that the alcoholic beverage sales commercial activity will not aggravate existing problems in the neighborhood created by the sale of alcohol such as loitering, public drunkenness, alcoholic beverage sales to minors,.noise and littering. (Ord. 2002-33 § 2). There are no existing problems in the neighborhood because of loitering and public drunkenness, noise or litter. The conditions of approval will allow for revocation of the Land Use Permit for alcohol sales if the indicated nuisances were to occur. C. Findings Required for Requested Variance to Zoning Requirement that Off-Street Parking Lots be Paved: L That because of special circumstances applicable to the subject property, because of its size, shape, topography, location or surroundings, the strict application of the respective zoning regulations is found to deprive the subject property of rights enjoyed by other properties in the vicinity and within the identical land use district; and S- 5 There are unique circumstances in respect to subject property in relation to the nature of the use which is primarily only in use in the dry season when a gravel parking lot will adequately meet the parking needs of the project. 2. That any variance authorized shall not constitute a grant of special privilege inconsistent with the limitations with other property in the vicinity ,and in the respective land use district in. which the subject property is located; and The approval of this variance would not constitute a grant of special circumstances because the County has in the past approved other agricultural uses without requiring that the parking be paved. 3. That any variance authorized shall substantially meet the intent and purpose of the respective land use district in which the subject property is located. The approval of this variance substantially meets the intent and purpose of the A-80 district in which the subject property is located in that the Board of Supervisors has determined that winery and olive oil mills which add to the economic viability of agricultural zones, further the General Plan goals of preservation of agriculture and open space. CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL Administrative: 1. Development of a winery and tasting room including alcohol sales, and an olive oil mill on subject property is approved as shown on the site plan dated received November 15, 2004 and the building elevations and floor plans dated received February 22, 2005. a. No winery operation, wine tasting or wine sales shall occur until the planting of a vineyard at substantially the same area as that shown on the approved site plan is completed. b. All tasting and sales activity shall take place only in the house located on the property, not in any other location on the property. 2. A variance is approved to Zoning Ordinance Section 82-16.012 allowing the required off-street parking not to be paved provided it is surfaced with all- weather gravel acceptable to the Zoning Administrator. 3. Indemnification: Pursuant to Government Code Section 66474.9, the applicant (including the owner or any agent thereof) shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Contra Costa County Planning Agency and its agents, officers, and employees from any claim, action, or proceeding against the Agency (the S-6 County) or its agents, officers, or:.employees to attack, set aside, void, or annul, the Agency's approval concerning this project application, which action is brought within the time period provided for in Section 66499.37. The County will promptly notify the owner of any such claim, action, or proceeding and cooperate fully in the defense. 4. Prior to.the issuance of a building permit or the commencement of use; the owner shall initiate the process to amend and update the Williamson Act contract on the property. Minimally the owner shall complete the contract and pay the applicable fees to the Community Development Department. (Contact Patrick Roche of CDD a@ (925) 335-1242). The Board of Supervisors must approve said contract , amendment; and after execution by County representative, the contract amendment shall be recorded prior to issuance of a building permit or the commencement of the proposed use. Compliance Report: 5. At least 60 days prior to commencement of use or issuance of a Building permit, the applicant shall submit a report on compliance with the conditions of approval with this permit and the final development plan permit for the review and approval of the Zoning Administrator. Except for those conditions administered by the Public Works Department, the report shall list each condition followed by a description of what the applicant has provided as evidence of compliance with that condition. (A copy of the conditions of approval may be available on computer disk; to try to obtain contact the project planner at 335-1204.) ,Unless otherwise indicated, the applicant will be required to demonstrate compliance with the conditions of this report prior to issuance of.a building permit. The Zoning Administrator may reject the report if it is not comprehensive with respect to applicable requirements for the requested ministerial permit. The permit compliance review is subject to staff time and material charges, with an initial deposit of$500, which shall be paid at time of submittal of the compliance report. A check is payable to the County of Contra Costa. Limited Hours for Operation of On-Site Retail Sales and Wine Tasting: 6. Hours of operation for on-site retail sales of wine and wine tasting activities are limited to Saturday and Sundays and the Mondays that fall on a Federally designated Holiday, as follows: April through October 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM November through March. 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM S-7 Special Events: 7. No special events are authorized on the subject property as part of this use permit. Landscaping: 8. At least 30 days prior to the issuance of a building permit or commencement of use, a landscape and irrigation plan including shrubs and groundcover shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator for review and approval. All approved trees shall be a minimum of 15 gallon size. Additionally the landscaping plan shall provide for both landscape and hardscape and shall show walkways and areas of potential public assembly. The landscape plan shall provide for a rustic, vineyard/wine/olive oriented theme. The applicant shall provide a detailed landscaping plan, for review and approval by the Zoning Administrator, to include some soft f an opaque screening through landscaping to screen and soften the wall on the north side of the barn, or provide a substantial fence in place of the existing fence. The landscaping shall be installed'prior to the commencement of use. Signs: 9. No business identification sign shall be permitted with the exception of a freestanding sign not to exceed 6 sq. ft. to be located near the primary vehicle entrance. The design, color and location of the sign shall be subject to Zoning Administrator review and approval. No illuminated signs shall be allowed. Two directional signs may be allowed off-site with consent of the property owner, and with the approval of the Zoning Administrator. The directional signs shall limit their copy to the name of the winery, direction and distance and shall not exceed 6 square feet in area. Archaeology: 10. Should any previously unknown historic or prehistoric resource be discovered during grading, trenching or other on-site excavation(s), earthwork within 100 feet of these materials shall be stopped until a professional archaeologist certified_ by the Registry of Professional Archaeologists (RPA) has had an opportunity to evaluate the significance of the find and suggest appropriate mitigation(s), as determined necessary. Parking: 11. A parking.plan shall .be submitted for review and approval by the Zoning Administrator at least 30 days prior to issuance of a building permit or commencement of use. The plan shall include the following requirements: a. The location and layout shall conform to that shown on the approved site plan. b. Handicapped spaces shall be paved and appropriately identified. S-8 c. The overflow spaces for special events shall be, designated on the plan. The area of parking on grass shall be kept mowed and unencumbered with storage or other obstructions that would impede its.use by visitors. Private Sewer System: 12. Prior to the issuance of building permit or commencement of useprovide evidence that the.Contra Costa County Department of Environmental Health, has reviewed and approved the private septic tank system proposed to serve the entire facility. Minor modifications to the approved site plan may be made to accommodate the approved system. Private Water.Supply: 13. Prior to the issuance of a building permit or commencement of use provide evidence that the Contra Costa County Department of Environmental Health has reviewed the*adequacy of the proposed water system to meet domestic, and fire flow.requirements. 14. Prior to the issuance of a building permit or the commencement of use, the applicant shall have prepared, a hydro-geological report prepared by an engineering firm,with particular expertise in this field, and that this report shall be subject to a peer review by a different engineering firm with expertise in hydro-geology or other expert of the County's choosing, to be paid for by the applicant. If the Zoning Administrator determines that the operation of the proposed winery and olive oil mill has a significant adverse effect on the local groundwater that cannot be mitigated, then the use cannot proceed without securing an alternate source of irrigation water, acceptable to the Zoning Administrator. Regional Water Quality Control Board Approval 15. Prior to the issuance.of a building permit or commencement of use, provide ' evidence to the satisfaction of the Zoning Administrator that the San Francisco Bay Area Regional Water Quality Control Board has reviewed the, projected wastewater output from the facility and has approved a permit or has found that the operation is subject to a waiver for small food processors. Fees: 16. This application is subject to an initial application fee of$2748.00, which was paid with the application submittal, plus time, and material costs if the application review expenses exceed- 100% of the initial fee. Any additional fee due must be paid within 60,days of the permit effective date or prior to use of the permit whichever occurs first. -The applicant may obtain current costs by contacting the project planner. If you owe additional fees, a bill will be sent to you shortly after permit issuance. 1 S-9 17. Prior to obtaining the building permit or commencement of use, the applicant shall provide evidence to the satisfaction of the Zoning Administrator that a commercial bonded wine premises permit has been approved or is under review from appropriate agencies. 18. The applicant is limited to a maximum of 10 truck trips of 10 wheels or larger per year for hauling grapes to the facility. PUBLIC WORKS RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR PERMIT LP 04-2118 Applicant shall comply with the requirements of Title 8, Title 9, and Title 10 of the County Ordinance Code. Any exceptions must be stipulated in these conditions of approval. Conditions of Approval are based on the site plan received by the Community Development Department on November 15, 2004. COMPLY WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL PRIOR TO INITIATION OF THE USE PROPOSED UNDER THIS PERMIT: Access to Adjoining Property: Proof of Access 19. Applicant shall furnish proof to Public Works of the acquisition of all necessary rights of way, rights of entry, permits and/or easements for the construction of off-site, temporary or permanent, public and private road and drainage improvements. Encroachment Permit 20. Applicant shall obtain an encroachment permit from the Application and Permit Center, for any work done within the right of way of Victorine Road. Roadway Improvements (Frontage): 21. The applicant shall pave the driveway entrance, at minimum, from the edge of pavement of Victorine Road to the entrance gate to prevent dust and gravel from spilling out onto the roadway. Sight Distance: 22. The applicant shall provide.adequate sight distance at the driveway entrance for a through traffic design speed of 35 miles per hour. 23. The . plie.,,,t shall provide .,.lequ toght dist.nee at tho ;,,to,�o�*;.,,, of ,b Vieto-inn Read .,n.7 High1.,,,.�1 Readf h,- + euggh t-.,f'fie design speed ef 4- Highland b b S- 10 mi-1es/hour-. (Condition deleted by Public.Works Department September 14,. 2005.) Road Dedications: 24. Applicant shall convey to the County, by Offer of Dedication, 10 feet of right of way along the frontage of Victorine Road to provide the ultimate right of way half-width of 30 feet. Underground Utilities: 25. All new utility distribution facilities'shall be installed underground. Drainage Improvements: Collect and Convey 26. Division 914 of the Ordinance Code requires that all storm waters entering or originating within the subject property shall be conveyed, without diversion and within an adequate storm drainage facility, .to a natural watercourse having definable bed and banks, or to an existing adequate public storm drainage facility that conveys the storm waters to a natural watercourse. Exception The applicant shall be permitted an exception from the collect and convey requirements of the County Ordinance Code due to the large size and agricultural nature of the parcel, provided that the existing drainage pattern is maintained and concentrated storm water runoff is not discharged onto adjacent properties. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Requirements: 27. The applicant. shall be required to comply with all rules, regulations, and procedures of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) for municipal, construction and industrial activities as promulgated by the California State Water Resources Control Board, or any of its Regional Water Quality Control Boards (San Francisco Bay or Central Valley Region). Compliance shall include developing long-term best management practices (BM-Ps) for-the reduction or elimination of storm water pollutants. The project design shall incorporate, wherever. feasible, the following long term .BMPs in accordance with the Contra Costa Clean Water Program for the site's storm water drainage: - IVlinimize the amount of directly connected impervious surface area. Shallow roadside and on-site swales. Slope pavements to sheet flow onto planted surfaces where feasible. S- 11 - Develop a perpetual maintenance program for on-site clean water/drainage facilities (i.e. filtering inlets). - Other alternatives as approved by the Public Works Department. ADVISORY NOTES PLEASE NOTE ADVISORY NOTES ARE ATTACHED TO THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL, BUT ARE NOT A PART OF THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL. ADVISORY NOTES, ARE PROVIDED FOR THE PURPOSE OF INFORMING THE APPLICANT OF ADDITIONAL ORDINANCE AND OTHER LEGAL REQUIREMENTS THAT MUST BE MET IN ORDER TO PROCEED WITH DEVELOPMENT. A. This project may be subject to the requirements of the Department of Fish and Game. It is the applicant's responsibility to notify the Department of Fish and Game, P.O. Box 47, Yountville, California 94599, of any proposed construction within this development that may affect any fish and wildlife resources, per the Fish and Game Code. B. This project may be subject to the requirements of the Army Corps of Engineers. It is the applicant's responsibility to notify the appropriate district of the Corps of Engineers to determine if a permit is required, and if it can be obtained. C. Comply with the Bridge/Thoroughfare Fee Ordinance requirements for the South County Area of Benefit as adopted by the Board of Supervisors. This fee must be paid prior to issuance of a building.permit. D. A portion of the subject property is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area as designated on the federal Flood Insurance Rate Maps. The applicant should be aware of the requirements of the Federal Flood Insurance Program and the County Floodplain Management Ordinance (Ordinance No. 2000-33) as they pertain to future construction of any structures on this property. E. Additional requirements may be imposed by the Fire District or the Building Inspection Department. It is advisable to check with these departments prior to requesting a building permit or proceeding with the project. The Building Inspection Department minimally shall require that: (1) A building permit will be required for any new facility or other work that is subject to the applicable building or other code administered by the Building Inspection Department. (2) All work must be done in compliance with 2001 CBC, CEC, CMC, and CPC codes as well as current Title 24 Energy Standards and Contra Costa County Ordinances. (3) Prior to issuance of the building permit provide evidence of building plan approval by the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. S- 12 F. The Building Inspection Department will require two sets of building plans .which must be stamped by the Community Development Department and by the Sanitary District, or if the site is not'within a Sanitary District, by the County Health Department. G. NOTICE OF 90-DAY OPPORTUNITY TO PROTEST FEES, DEDICATIONS, RESERVATIONS, OR OTHER EXACTIONS PERTAINING TO THE APPROVAL OF THIS PERMIT. This notice is intended to advise the applicant that pursuant to Government Code Section 66000, et. seq, the applicant has the opportunity.to protest fees, dedications, reservations, and/or exactions required as part of this"project approval. The opportunity to protest is limited to a ninety-day(90)period after the project is approved. The 90-day period in which you may protest the amount of any fee or imposition of any dedication, reservation, or other exaction required by this approved permit,begins on the date this permit -was approved. To be valid, a .protest must be in writing pursuant to Government Code -Section 66020 and delivered to the Community Development Department within 90 days of the approval date of this.permit. G:\Current Planning\Staff Reports\LP0421 I8.FINDING&COA.doc. APPROVED 6/21/06 LT 6-27-06/df APPEAL LETTER Sunol Ridge Ranch t,;;3., i ;�. ;S T 1090 Victorine Road Livermore, CA 94551 06 JUN 23 PM «' S6 eo C/ 2-11 � UNHU1tIT'i GE';EL0PL�-f�T DErT June 23, 2006 Mr. Michael Henn Contra Costa County Planning Department Marinez, CA Dear Mr. Henn; We respectfully request an appeal to the decision of the San Ramon Valley Planning Commission of last Wednesday night regarding hosting of public activities for the following reasons: 1. We were instructed from the previous meeting to present our desired number of annual activities and the economic justification for that number. We did so, but found the number of our requested activities displeased the Commissioners and they voted based upon this number. However, it was never,our intention to insist on this quantity, only to comply with the Commission's previous request of providing our preference. And although at this meeting we indicated an ability to be flexible, the Commission's.response was that we"were presenting a moving target", and did not seem willing to discuss the matter further. We would have expected that there should be some accommodation for discussion, however we were not presented with that opportunity. It was never our intent to make this an"all or nothing" issue, and would have appreciated the opportunity to enter into a dialog to reach common ground. 2. The majority of Commissioners indicated at this meeting that they were pre- disposed to vote in favor of a limited number of public activities,but changed their minds solely on the basis of the number that we requested. Given that they were philosophically favorable to the idea public activities, it is logical for us to request another opportunity to reach a consensus with the County on a number that would work for both parties. Best re ards, w Bruce and Dale Ann Springer T s ' � ZONING ADMINISTRATOR STAFF REPORT JUNE 209 2005 a v Agenda Item 4 Community Development Contra Costa County CONTRA COSTA COUNTY ZONING ADMINISTRATOR MONDAY. JUNE 20. 2005 I. INTRODUCTION BRUCE and DALE SPRINGER, (Applicants & Owners); County File #LP042118: The applicants request a Land Use Permit approval to operate a winery and olive oil mill including retail sales of wine and a tasting room within existing structures, and incidental limited special events. The application includes a request for an Alcohol Beverage Sales Commercial Use. The applicant also requests a variance to the requirement that the parking 1'ot'be paved, on an approximately 23 acre property located at 1090 Victorine Road, west side, north of Highland Road, North Livermore Area, (A-80) (ZA: W-22M) (CT: 3551.03) (Parcel 006-180- 019). Il. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the Zoning Administrator: A.' On the basis of the whole record before the Zoning Administrator, find that there is no substantial evidence that the project will have a significant effect ori the environment and that the Negative Declaration reflects the County's independent judgment and analysis; and that the documents or other material which constitute the record of proceedings upon which its decision is based may be found with the Contra Costa County Community Development Department, 651 Pine Street, Martinez. B. Adopt the proposed Negative Declaration determination for this project as adequate for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act. C. Adopt the related findings recommended by staff. D. Approve the Land Use Permit for the winery, the alcohol beverage sale, and approve the variance to the requirement to pave the parking lot, subject to the attached conditions of approval. S-2 III. GENERAL INFORMATION A. General Plan Land Use Designation: Agricultural Land (AL). This land use. designation allows a density of 0.2 units per net acre, or up to one unit per 5 acres, as well as a limited amount of conditional uses, permitted by Land Use Permit B. Zoning: The subject parcel is zoned A-80, Exclusive Agricultural District, 80-acre minimum building site area. C. CEQA Status Proposed Adoption of a Negative Declaration The application was submitted on November 15, 2004, but not deemed complete until March 3, 2005. The proposed Land Use Permit does not fall under the Categorical Exemption for reuse of existing buildings because of the size (exempt only if under 2500 square feet, CEQA Guidelines Section 15303-c). The Initial Study did not identify any potentially significant impacts. The public comment period for the Negative Declaration was from April 28,. 2005, until May 18, 2005, allowing a 20-day review period. Several comment letters on the Negative Declaration were received from neighbors as well as from the Environmental Health Division of the Contra Costa Health Services Department. The Health Services, Environmental Health Division reported .that approval from the San Francisco Bay Area Regional Water Quality Control Board will be required before the commencement of use, and that the septic system, water supply and food service would require Environmental Health approvals. The letters from neighboring residents dealt with potential traffic impacts, nuisances, incompatible business activity and ground water depletion. There was particular concern with the existing high levels of traffic on Highland Road with concerns raised about future traffic safety if the winery is approved. F. Nearby Active Projects None in the nearby area. A few other winery `applications. have been received recently, but mostly in the Brentwood to Byron area of East County. Two of these applications were approved in April 2005. S-3 G. Previous Applications 1. VROO-1077: This variance allowed the reconfiguration of seven lots, described as the Hoiland Ranch, including the subject property. Subject lot was approved at its current 23 acre size by that action. 2. VRO1-1090: This variance request was not approved. It was a request to further reconfigure other existing lots in the Holland Ranch to allow three additional 20 acre lots along Victorine Road. This proposed variance and Lot Line Adjustment would have created a large remnant to the west fronting on Highland Road. Several area residents opposed this variance. The denial was not appealed. H. Regulatory Programs 1. Active Fault Zones: The subject property is not within an active fault zone. The Marsh Creek-Greenville Fault is about 2 miles to the east. 2. Flood Hazard Area: The subject property is within Flood Zone C except for a small area at the northwest corner of the property where a small creek channel is located which is within Flood Zone A. The Flood Zone area would not affect any existing or proposed project development. 3. 60dBA Projected Noise Impacted Area: The Noise Element of the General Plan does not indicate that any part of the site would be affected by traffic from any major thoroughfare identified by the Noise Element. 4. Creek Setback Regulations: The small creek at the northwest corner of the subject property would potentially generate a structural setback. No proposed development would be affected by the setback. IV. PROPOSED PROJECT Bruce and Dale Springer, the project owners and applicants, propose to operate a winery including a tasting room and retail sales of wine on a-parcel containing 23 acres. All buildings proposed to be a part of the use are existing. The use, as proposed, may include as an accessory use, up to 50 special events such as weddings, receptions, etc. per year. Off-street parking is proposed. A variance to the requirement for paving the required parking is requested (Zoning Ordinance Section 82-16.012). An all-weather, off-street parking area of about 10 gravel spaces is located around the barn/winery building near the northern boundary of the property. Six spaces are striped along the side of the barn and a wide gravel area on each end of the barn could accommodate at least two spaces per end. A similar number of unmarked spaces on gravel could be located adjacent to the house/tasting room. Additional spaces on grass are proposed along the driveway leading to the residence/tasting room in the west-center area of the property. The number of potential spaces exceeds the number of spaces required by the Zoning Ordinance, S-4 based on building size which is six for the tasting room and five for the barn/winery building. A variance to the requirement for paving the required parking is requested. (Zoning Ordinance Section 82-16.012). V. SITE/AREA DESCRIPTION Victorine Road extends north from Highland Road near the Contra Costa County/Alameda County line. Although zoned A-80, the nearby area mostly consists of rural ranchettes in the 20 to 40 acre parcel size range mixed with a few large acreage ranches. A neighboring home is just to the north of the barn on the subject property near the common property line (Leonardini). Another home is to the south on an adjacent 20 acre parcel. The site is about 1.4 miles north of the Alameda ,County line and about 6.5 miles to I-580 in Livermore. Much steeper hills extend to. the north in the direction of Mount Diablo. The area is rolling to slightly hilly ranchland with few trees. Victorine Road is a narrow 16-foot wide, dead-end road within a 40 foot right-of-way that connects to Highland Road to the south. Highland Road connects to North Livermore Avenue to the east and to Camino Tassajara to the west. The subject property is developed.with a large newer home of about 8000 gross square feet and a 2400 square foot barn located about 450 feet away near the northern property line. Several acres of olives have been planted on the site. Surrounding properties are largely used for grazing land: The site is gently rolling with its highest area near the center where the house is located. The elevation above sea level is about 940 feet near Victorine Road rising to 980 in the central portion and downsloping .to the northwest toward an 'unnamed creek near the northwest corner of the nearly rectangular property. Olive trees are planted between the house and- the road. Future vineyards are proposed near the northeast corner of the property. No creeks, wetlands or other water bodies are located where any development is existing or proposed. A small creek abuts the northwest corner of the property. There are few trees, other than the small recently planted olive trees on the site. An oak tree is near the western property line which would not be removed. VI. AGENCY COMMENTS A. HSD, Environmental Health: The May 16„ 2005 response requests that the septic system, water supply and food service receive Environmental Health approvals prior to commencement of use. B. Public Works Engineering Services: Public works has reviewed the application and site 'plan received on November 15, 2004 and submit the following comments: Background Information S- 5 The applicant proposes to operate a winery and olive oil mill on an approximately 23-acre parcel located at 1090 Victorine Road in the Livermore area. Existing structures on the site will be used and no new construction is proposed. Traffic and Circulation The parcel fronts on Victorine Road, a public street, which has a current road width of 16 feet within a 40-foot wide right of way and an ultimate planned road width of 40 feet within a 60-foot wide right of way. The applicant shall dedicate 10 feet of additional right of way to provide the ultimate 30-foot half-width. Pavement widening and other road improvements are not required. The applicant shall pave the driveway entrance, at minimum, from the edge of pavement of Victorine Road to the entrance gate to prevent dust and gravel from spilling out onto the roadway. Drainage The applicant shall be granted an exception from the collect and convey requirements of the-County Ordinance Code due to the large size and agricultural nature of the parcel, provided that the existing drainage pattern is maintained and concentrated storm water runoff is not disposed onto adjacent properties. A portion of the subject property is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area as designated on the federal Flood Insurance Rate Maps. The applicant should be aware of the requirements of the Federal Flood Insurance Program and the County Floodplain Management Ordinance (Ordinance No. 2000-33) as they pertain to future construction of any structures on this property. C. San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District: Memo from the Fire Protection District prepared by Mike Mentink dated April 4, 2005 lists the requirements of the district. VII. STAFF ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION General Plan Consistency: The site is designated as Agricultural Land on the General Plan. It is the intent of the General Plan that Agricultural Lands be preserved for agricultural uses by preventing the establishment of urban uses and any other incompatible land uses. However, the Board of Supervisors and the County Agricultural Advisory Task Force have evaluated the use of wineries and olive oil mills as uses that would, in fact, promote the retention of economically viable agriculture by making continued agricultural use more profitable without introducing incompatible uses inconsistent with the preservation of agriculture. Because of the popularity of wine, wine tasting and to a lesser extent olive oil mills, these uses may S-6 be considered for approval within the Agricultural Land areas. It is also noted that the site is partially designated as Class Il and Class III soils by the Soil Conservation Service. It is County policy to encourage the retention of prime soils in agricultural. Zoning Ordinance Consistency: The A-80 zoning district may permit the establishment of a winery subject to a land use permit approval. Minimum Parcel Size: 80 acres; 23 acres provided; however, the existence of smaller parcels was recognized with the establishment of the A-80 zoning for this area. In the subject case, the lot was approved by a variance and Lot Line Adjustment in 2000 (VR001077 & LLOl-36). Yards: Front: 25 feet required; 600 +/- ft. provided Side: 50 feet required; 50 feet provided Rear: 0 feet required; 100+ ft. provided It is recognized that the subject project has received more opposition than other winery applications, which generally have been well received. Concerns with traffic are a fairly normal outcome of development proposals. In subject case, the letters received also express a general concern that a winery would be incompatible with the low intensity grazing land uses of the area. The Land Use Permit findings pertain with potential nuisance and questions of whether the use would constitute "orderly .development". The applicants need to'demonstrate that their use would be a good neighbor with no significant adverse affect on surrounding properties. Development Guidelines Consistency: In addition to the normal Land Use Permit findings which primarily deal with Zoning Ordinance conformance, potential nuisance impact, compatibility and General Plan conformance, the Development Guidelines for Wineries and Olive Oil Mills, adopted by the Board of Supervisors on April 9,2004 set out a list of requirements and parameters for what is acceptable for the proposed winery and olive oil mill use. The following is an excerpt of the Development Guidelines followed by a response in italics regarding whether the subject project conforms to the Development Guidelines. A. Winery or Olive Oil Mill (definition) Winery means a commercial, bonded.facility for the fermentation and processing of grapes or other produce into wine, or the re-fermentation of still wine into sparkling wine; and, olive oil mill means processing of olives into olive oil. B. Activities and Facilities that are Specific to a Winery Use The following activities and facilities may be permitted under a land use permit for a winery: 1. Crushing or pressing grapes S-7 2. Fermenting wine 3. Aging wine 4. Processing and blending wine 5. Bottling and labeling wine 6. .Storage of wine in cellars, vats, barrels, bottles or cases 7. Laboratory or administrative (including sales) offices (subject to size limits) 8. Shipping, receiving, and distribution of wine produced on site (warehousing/distribution activities are to be limited in size and scope) 9. Truck scales 10. Equipment storage and repair subordinate to primary winery operation 11. Composting of grape by products and other agricultural wastes; and wastewater treatment. C. Activities and Facilities that are Specific to a Olive Oil Mill The following activities and facilities may be permitted under a land use permit for an olive oil mill: 1. Harvesting and milling, pressing an/or crushing of fresh olives 2. Extraction and blending olive oil product 3. Bottling and labeling of olive oil product 4. Storage of olive oil product 5. Laboratory or administrative (including sales) offices (subject to size limits) 6. Shipping, receiving, and distribution of olive oil produced on site (warehousing/distribution activities are to be limited in size and scope) 7. Equipment storage.and repair subordinate to primary olive mill operation 8. Composting and removal of olive pomace and wastewater treatment. The proposed Springer winery and olive oil mill would include the permitted uses. D. Accessory Uses and Structures for a Winery The following accessory use and structures may be permitted under a land use permit for a winery: 1. Tasting Area: Allow for wine tasting subject to the land use permit setting the size, location, hours of operation, of the tasting area, and subject to securing other permits or licenses, as may be required by state or federal law, or by other agencies. Wine tasting and retail sales of wine and olive oil would occur in the 1200+/- square foot great room.of the existing single family residence; plus, bathrooms and a kitchen area are available. 2. Retail Sales Area: Allow for the sale of wine or olive oil bottled or processed on the premises and accessory sales related to wine and wine promotion, subject to the land use permit setting the size, hours of operation, and location of the retail S- 8 sales area, and subject to securing other permits or licenses, as may be required by state or federal law, or by other agencies. The retail sales would occur in the same building as the tasting room. The applicant estimates that the use would be open only Saturday and Sunday, with hours of operation of noon to 5 PM. 3. Special Events: Allow for use of winery facilities for a limited number of special events such as'weddings, fundraisers, anniversaries, winemaker dinner, or similar events, subject to the limitations on the number of days and hours as defined in the land use permit. The applicant for a land use permit shall identify the number of special events that would occur during a typical year, the days for special events (weekday or weekend), the duration and hours for special events, and the maximum size of special events (number of persons expected to attend), when requesting permission to conduct special events at the winery (olive oil mill) as part of the land use permit. The determination on granting special events in conjunction with the land use permit shall be based in part on public safety considerations, including access and parking, compatibility with nearby agricultural operations, and community disruption, such as noise or traffic congestion. The intention is to allow a limited number and size of special events, which are not injurious to public safety, not incompatible with nearby agricultural operations, and not disruptive to the community, in winery locations that are appropriate for holding special events. The applicant proposes to hold as special events weddings, receptions, fundraisers and similar events, with a proposed frequency of 50 events per year. (See Special Events and Parking under discussion below). E. Minimum Parcel Size and Facility/Site Placement 1. Consistent with the provisions of the A-2: General Agricultural District, at Code Section 84-38.608, no winery or olive oil mill may be permitted in an agricultural zoning district on lot of less than 5 acres. Subject parcel contains 23 acres. 2. Consistent with the objectives of Measure C-1990: The Contra Costa 65/35 Land Preservation Plan Ordinance and the policies for the Agricultural Core, as referenced in the General Plan, to preserve and protect prime farmland (Class I & II soils), .the placement of a winery or olive oil mill on a parcel in the Agricultural Core should be sized and located where it has the least impact on prime agricultural soils. The intent is to insure that all facilities, structures, and parking/loading area related to a winery or olive oil mill are sited or grouped on a relatively small portion of the , property so that the conversion of prime agricultural soils is minimized. A land use permit for a winery in the Agricultural Core shall only be granted in conjunction with a planted vineyard. A land use S-9 permit for an olive oil mill in the Agricultural Core shall only be granted in conjunction with an olive orchard. In those locations in the Agricultural Core where parcels are currently zoned for commercial or light industrial, an application for winery or olive oil land use permit will be accepted with a concurrent application to rezone the site to an agricultural zoning district. The winery use including all buildings and parking occur on about 1 acre of the 23 acre site. While there have been a considerable amount of olives planted, the winery, to be permitted, must. be in conjunction with a planted vineyard. A vineyard area is proposed as part of the project. F. Parking and Loading Spaces, Access, Signage, and Trash Disposal for a Winery or a Olive Oil Mill 1. Parking and Loading: Consistent with the provisions of the County's Off- Street Parking Ordinance, at Code Sections 82-16.018 (15) and (16) and Section 82-16.022, the following parking and loading space requirements shall apply: • Provide 1 parking space per 500 sq., ft. of floor area devoted to the accessory (or incidental) uses of a winery or olive oil mill '(e.g. retail sales, tasting room, etc.); • Provide 1 parking space per 1,000 sq. ft. of storage area (barrel storage and aging). • Provide off-street loading space for more than 10,000 square feet of gross floor area of winery building per the schedule at Section 82-16.022. The building proposed for the winery would generate a requirement of five spaces and the area proposed for the tasting room and retail sales would generate a requirement of six spaces,for a total of I1 spaces. Approximately 10 graveled spaces can be provided in the main lot near the house/tasting room, and 10+/-11 more graveled spaces are available at the winery building. Additionally more potential overflow spaces on grass could be provided along the entry driveway and at the ends of the barn/winery building(See Special Events in the Discussion section below). 2. Access: Provide for the safe ingress and egress to winery facilities on a public roadway subject to the review and approval by the County Zoning Administrator through the land use permit process. The principal access driveway to a winery which is open to the public for tours, tasting, or retail sales shall be clearly identified in the land use permit, and subject to review and approval by the County Zoning Administrator that the access driveway is safe and adequate. Due to traffic safety considerations, establishing a new access driveway on to State Route 4 within the Agricultural Core in S- 10 connection with a winery or olive mill land use permit shall be generally discouraged, unless it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the County Traffic Engineer and/or Caltrans Traffic Engineer that the new access driveway would not create an unsafe turning movement off of or onto State Route 4. The access from the project driveway is clear of obstacles and this portion of Victorine, Road_is relatively straight. The Public Works Department has not raised concern about the high speed of traffic and the nearby intersection of Victorine Road with Highland Road; however, several letters from area residents express the view that there would not be safe access. Limitations on uses and hours to non peak hours could mitigate-the impact of new traffic. 3. Signage: Allow for non-illuminated signage on the premises specifically related to the winery or olive oil mill use consistent with existing sign ordinances and subject to review and approval through the land use permit process. In addition, subject to the land use permit allow for up to two directional signs, each of which shall be non-illuminated and of a uniform design, and consisting only of the winery (or olive oil "mill) name, the distance, and direction. A condition of approval requires Zoning Administrator approval of a sign consistent with the A-80 zoning district. Additionally two directional signs may be erected. 4. Trash Disposal: The land use permit holder for a winery or olive oil mill shall be responsible for proper disposal of trash originating from their facilities. It is the intent that the trash, litter, and garbage originating from a winery or olive oil mill establishment shall not become a nuisance, unsightly, or interfere with ongoing agricultural operations. Where applicable the conditions for trash disposal, as defined under County Code Section 88- 16.008 (Chapter 88-16, Take Out Food Establishments) shall be used for a winery or olive oil mill land use permit. A condition of approval requires Zoning Administrator approval of the placement and servicing of trash service. G. Compliance with the County Code Chanter 82-38, Alcoholic Beverage Sales Commercial Activities I. A land use permit for a winery involving the sale of alcoholic beverages shall only be granted in accordance with the requirements of County Chapter 82- 83, Alcoholic Beverage. Sales Commercial Activities Ordinance, including the following restrictions on a location's from the following (Section 82- 38.604): within 700 feet of an existing Alcoholic Beverage Sales Commercial Activity; within 400 feet of a public or private accredited school, a public S- 11 park, playground or recreational area, a place of worship, an alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facility, or county social service office; within a Crime Reporting District, or within 600 feet of a Crime Reporting District, where the general crime rate exceeds the countywide general crime rate by more than 20 percent. These restrictions may be modified through the land use permit process. 2. A land use permit for a winery involving the sale of alcoholic beverages shall only be granted in accordance with the requirements of County Chapter 82- 83, including the following findings (Section 82-38.606): a finding of "public convenience and necessity", if the activity will be located in area determined by the CA Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to have an undue concentration of liquor sales licenses and a finding that it will not aggravate existing problems created by the sale of alcohol such a loitering, public drunkenness, sale to minors, noise and litter. The alcohol sales activity is consistent with the requirements of Chapter 82- 83 and licenses from the State and Federal licensing agencies are being provided. The special findings are not applicable in this area without there being other alcoholic sales within the indicated distances; and the Sheriffs Office has not found the area to be Crime Reporting District. H. Compliance with other Agenev Requirements 1. Liquid waste disposal: An applicant shall provide evidence that the winery or olive oil mill will comply with the wastewater discharge or disposal requirements as may be established by the Regional Water Quality Control Board. The applicant shall obtain the necessary approvals for liquid waste from the San Francisco Bay Area Regional Water Quality Control Board as a condition of approval. 2. Solid waste disposal: Pomace (fruit skins or rinds) may be used as fertilizer or soil amendment, provided that such use or other disposal shall occur in accordance with the Regional Water Quality Control Board, or the requirements of the Environmental Health Division, County Health Services Department. The applicant shall obtain the necessary approvals for solid waste from the San Francisco Bay Area Regional Water Quality Control Board as a condition of approval. 3. Permits/Licenses: An applicant shall provide evidence that a commercial bonded wine premises permit has been approved or is under review by the S- 12 Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, U.S. Department of Treasury (referred to as the Application for Basic Permit under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act, OMB No. 1512-0089). Additionally, wine tasting and retail sales may. require certain permits or licenses from the State. of California, and the applicant shall provide evidence that such a permit or license has been approved or is under review. This licensing requirement is not applicable to an olive oil mill. State and Federal Licenses shall be required as a condition of approval. Proposed Variance to the Off-street Parking Paving Requirement: Wineries particularly for the wine tasting and special events aspect of the business are largely a "fair-weather" activity. Staff has looked at other small wineries in the Livermore and Pleasanton areas and found that gravel parking lots are fairly normal for this use. The parking standards section of the Zoning Ordinance was primarily written for urban-area commercial parking lots which need to be available throughout the year. A Public Works Department condition of approval will require that the entry driveway be paved for approximately 50 feet into the lot to prevent the tracking out of gravel onto the public highway. The Handicapped parking spaces will also be paved as required by State regulations. For these reasons staff recommends that the variance to the paving requirement be granted provided the minimum number of spaces required to meet Zoning Ordinance requirements be adequately graveled to provide a safe all-weather surface for vehicles. The grass spaces shown along the driveway can be considered as overflow parking since the minimum number of required spaces are gravel. If the number of special events were greater than that proposed, it would raise a serious concern with dust and other nuisance issues. There are easily 20 gravel spaces between the tasting room and winery. Staff has used a conservative 20 potential overflow spaces on grass along the driveway for a total of 40 spaces. Most of the site adjacent to a driveway is potentially parking area in dry weather because of the gentle slopes. Traffic: Letters received object to the new traffic that would be generated by the wine-tasting, retail sales and special events. The Public Works Department response did not object to the traffic and did not ask for road widening or a traffic study. Victorine Road is 16 feet wide within a 40 foot right-of-way. The 16-foot standard was used for many years throughout the County as a minimum road.width for minor agricultural and residential roads. Two vehicles can pass but somewhat carefully and at reduced speeds. With only about three residences beyond the subject property, there is little likelihood of a problem with road capacity. The stretch of road near the site is relatively level and sight distance is good. Highland Road is quite busy during commute hours and as discussed below under Special Events, recommended conditions of approval will limit both special events and retail sales to weekends only. While complaints regarding traffic are commonly received when new uses are proposed, staff does not feel that the limited use proposed would significantly impact traffic capacity or sight distance. S- 13 Special Events: The Board of Supervisors' winery policy permits as an accessory use special events. These are envisioned as fairly minor activities which are clearly subordinate and incidental to the winery/vineyard operation of the property. Consequently staff would be concerned if the scale and/or.frequency were excessive in addition to the usual concerns about traffic safety, parking sufficiency, nuisance etc. As proposed, up to 50 special events would be.held per Year described as weddings, receptions, dinners or fund raisers. Since these would largely be outdoor activities likely to be mostly scheduled during the seasons of good weather, such a number would equate to about one or two per weekend during the six warmer and dryer months, roughly from mid-April through mid-October and relatively infrequently during the cooler months. Given that we have received a significant amount of opposition largely related to traffic and other potential nuisances, staff has found that the 50 events per year proposed could potentially constitute a nuisance. Consequently, staff recommends that the number of special events be limited to 20 per year. Staff has been conservative in desiring to control the size and frequency of special events which could be a nuisance to surrounding property owners. Additionally such events _need to be clearly incidental and accessory to the vineyard/winery operation rather than the principal use. A winery was approved on Byron Highway east of Brentwood and the number of special events was held to 20 per year. Over time with a successful track record of inoffensive and nuisance-free special events, a greater number might be considered by way of a modification request to the Land Use Permit. Even 20 events would equate to about three a month during the seven warmer and dryer months, roughly from April through October when such events would most likely occur. It is also recommended that the days of special events be limited to weekends. Much of the traffic along Highland Road occurs during the AM and PM weekday commute periods as I-580 is frequently impacted by heavy traffic causing some motorists to seek alternates such as the North Livermore-Highland-Camino Tassajara bypass of the I-580/I-680 interchange area. Additionally, conditions of approval relating to hours, noise, lighting and prohibited activities have been included to protect the area and to assure that the special events as well as the wine tasting and wine and olive oil sales remain small and subordinate to the olive oil mill and winery use. The staff recommendation for size of special events would limit the number to 120 persons based on the 40 parking spaces. Aesthetics, Trees and Landscaping: The site is large but still appears fairly bare with the big new home and only small recently planted landscaping. While staff does not necessarily want to intrude in the applicant's design and marketing ideas for the property, it is staffs observation that charm and quaintness are an integral part of the successful winery/wine touring experience. The main residence is a large new home of a Mediterranean style with arched windows. Unfortunately the other barn building is a metal building with an industrial appearance and while not particularly unattractive, it does not have the charm of traditional winery buildings. Other established wineries have created a rustic and aesthetically pleasing appearance with S- 14 good building design, landscaping and creating a park-like setting with planters, arbors, picnic tables, benches, etc. The subject property geographically relates more to the well-established Livermore Valley wineries rather than to the East Contra Costa County wineries which are at an early stage of evolution. A recommended condition of approval requires approval of a landscaping plan and its installation prior to the commencement of use. Signs: The Board of Supervisors in approving the winery development policy did not make any provision for allowing anything beyond what the applicable zoning district might allow for a sign. Since commercial uses were not envisioned in the A-80 zone, only a 6 square feet identification sign is permitted by the Zoning Ordinance. A 1' x 6' attractive well-placed sign at the entrance may suffice for business identification. The development policy does allow for two directional signs in addition to that permitted by the Zoning Ordinance. These, subject to Zoning Administrator approval, might be located off-site with the permission of the affected property owner, and also limited to 6 square feet. Williamson Act: The property has been placed under a Williamson Act contract. While the Williamson Act's responsibilities and benefits run with the land, it is recommended that an updated contract be prepared and executed which would reflect the current ownership as well as including the winery and olive oil mill use. Well Water Adequacy: The letter from the nearest neighbor to the north (Leonardini) alleges that excessive pumping of well water for the new residence, olive trees and incidental landscaping has depleted the local ground water. The applicants have stated that they have a hydro-geological study that refutes the neighbor's charges. Staff does not have the expertise to determine whether that allegation has merit. Consequently, Community Development Department staff as well. as .the Environmental Health Division, recommend a condition of approval that would require, prior to the issuance of a building permit or the commencement of use, the preparation of a hydro-geological report prepared by an engineering firm with particular expertise in this field, and that the report be peer reviewed by a different engineering firm with expertise in hydro-geology or other expert of the County's choosing, to be paid for by the applicant. If the operation.of the proposed winery and olive oil mill is determined to have a significant adverse effect on the local groundwater, that cannot be mitigated, then the permit is not valid and the use cannot proceed without securing an alternate source of irrigation water acceptable to the Zoning Administrator. Use of House for Wine Tasting and Retail Sales: The house is large and has an appropriately attractive scale and style to be used for the proposed wine tasting and retail sales of wine and olive oil. However, some applicable codes are not well-suited for mixed uses of a residence with a business. While the applicants are confident that they will be able to meet the applicable codes, particularly the Building Code and the regulations administered by the Environmental Health Services Department, they would like the option of having all the wine tasting and retail sales functions occur in S- 15 the barn/winery building if they choose not to pursue the mixed use of their business with their residence. A condition of approval would give them the option of using either building. VIII Summary: Staff recommends that the land use permit for the proposed winery use including alcohol sales be approved. The required findings can be made for the Land Use Permit and the project conforms to the Development Guidelines for Wineries and Olive Oil Mills, adopted by the Board of Supervisors. For the reasons stated above, a variance for allowing an all-weather but unpaved parking lot is also recommended for approval. G:CurrentPlan/staff reports/LP042118.doc ,ALKER, M.D. CONTRA COSTA 3 I)IRECTOR C. STUAKT, ENVIRONMENTAL tUHS H EALTH .MENTAL HEALTH DIRECTOR j CONTRA COSTA 2120 Diamond Blvd., Suite 200 Concord, California HEALTH SERVICES 94520 March 22 X005 Ph(925)646-5225 Fax(925)646-5168 www.cocoeh.org Dale Ann Springer 1090 Victorine Road Livermore, CA 94551 RE: Project Number: LP042118 Location: 1090 Victorine Road, Livermore Assessor's Parcel Number: 006-180-019 The following must be completed as a condition of your Use Permit/Rezone: 1. WATER SUPPLY: The means of providing a safe and reliable supply of water for the project. A. Public Water Svstem 1. Obtain a small public water system permit. For further information obtain the handout How to Apply for a Small Public Water System Permit. 2. Potable water as required by state law for wine tasting facility. 2. WASTEWATER DISPOSAL: Method of providing safe and reliable wastewater disposal for the project. A. Public Sewer Svstem 1. Contact California Regional Water Quality Control Board, 1515 Clay Street, Oakland, CA 94612, regarding winery wastes and olive press wastes, Bill Hurley, (510) 622-2364. 2. Contact State Food and Drug for any proposed whole sale operation. B. Individual Septic Svstem I. The wine tasting room will need to be plan checked by Environmental Health. It cannot be part of the residence. It will need its own septic system. 4. MISCELLANEOUS Please note that due to the complexity of some projects, additional information may be required at any stage of the review process. If you have any questions, please contact me at (925) 646-5225 x218, weekdays between 7:30 a.m, and 9:00 a.m. Sincerely, Jeff Edwards, R.E.H.S. Senior Environmental Health Specialist EHLUT.29 8/00 • Contra Costa Alcohol and other Drugs Services • Contra Costa Emergency Medical Services • Contra Costa Environmental Health • Contra Costa Health Plan • - Contra Costa Hazardous Materials Programs •Contra Costa Mental Health • Contra Costa Public Health • Contra Costa Regional Medical Center • Contra Costa Health Cemu t P Llllllillj lit Lr,rIII 1-iI Lti,1t<< 1r'� (OWifl` lif till' 111'1-itt Warren E.Rupi shel a June 10. 2005 Mr. Mike Henn Community Development Department 651 Pine Street, 4"' Floor, North Wing Martinez, CA 94553 Dear Mr. Henn, Subject: Land Use permit to operate a winery, located at 1090 Victorine Rd., Livermore, CA. RE: County File #LP-042118 Project Description: This is a request to approve the operation of a winery, tasting room, olive oil mill and to possibly host special events. The existing structures will be used and no new construction is proposed at this time. The Office of the Sheriff has no objection to this request. If you should have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me at the number listed below. Sincerely, WARREN E. RUPF, Sheriff Office of the Sheriff— Contra Costa County By: Angela Urrutia Crime Prevention Specialist Office of the Sheriff— Contra Costa County (925) 646-6075 cc: Lieutenant Steve Warne—Vallev Station Conunander Patricia Pava—Supervisor. Community Relations& Crime Prevention File 1980 Muir Road • Martinez. California. 94553-4800 (925) 313-2500 "Co 111»itill it), Policing ,Since 1850.... SAN RAMON VALLEY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT PROJECT NAME SPRINGER WINERY FP # 02104 ADDRESS 1090 VICTORINE RD., LIVERMORE X-REF:# i'ij; CONTACT.: MIKE HENN PHONE: 335-1210 RZ:36 OCCUPANCY CLASS R-3 DESCRIPTION SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING CONSTRUCTION TYPE V-AFES DESCRIPTION WOODFRAME CHECK ONE: ❑ NEW CONST ❑ TENANT IMP ❑ PLANNING.APPLICATIONS ❑ ADDN ❑ AFES ❑ FIRE ALARM ® LUP OTHER BLDG/PLAN AGENCY CONTRA'COSTA,COUNTY APN # 006-180-019 AGENCY# LP 042.118 APPLICABLE CODES/ORDINANCES 2001 CBC—CFC, SRVFPD ORD.-#18 ADD'L INFO: BLDG AREA FLR AREA # OF FLRS SPECIAL FEES WATER ACCESS ACCESS GATES LOCKBOX OTHER REVIEWED BY: MIKE MENTINK DATE APRIL 1,-2005 ATTENTION: Mike Henn Planning, Contra Costa County :FIRE DISTRICT.COMMENTS: 1. .Fire apparatus roadways (public, private streets,.roads, and in some instances driveways used for vehicle access) shall have a minimum.unobstructed width of 20 feet(6 m) and an unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than 13 feet 6 inches (4 m). Streets under 36 feet (l l m) shall.have red curbs and be.-Posted with signs or red curbs and.stenciled on one side and under.28 feet(8.5 m) on both sides of the street. Stencil and aigns.shall read as.follows: "NO STOPPING FIRE LANE - CVC 22500.1".. (CFC,2001,.Sec. 902.2.2.1)(S-7) 2. Fire apparatus roadways (public, private streets, roads and in some instances driveways used for vehicle access) shall be capable of supporting the imposed weight of fire.apparatus (40,000 pounds) and shall be provided with an all weather driving surface. Only paved or concrete surfaces are considered to be all weather driving surfaces. (CFC, 2001, Sec. 902.2.2.2)(s_s) 3. If development interfaces with wildland or open space areas, a separate landscape plan for vegetation fuel modification and/or buffer zone(s) featuring fire resistive and drought tolerant varieties of landscaping is required to be.submitted and approved by San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District prior to issuance of grading and building permits. The zone(s) should be shown/designated as separate lettered lots. The plan shall include dedicated easements for emergency and maintenance access to these zones and shall be maintained in perpetuity. The maintenance for the buffer zones and emergency/maintenance access ways shall be assigned to a homeowner's association or other approved agent. V May 13, 2005 Dale Ann Springer 1090 Victorine Road Livermore, Ca. 94551 Re: Negative Declaration Proposal Project Number: LP042118 Location: 1090 Victorine Rd., Livermore Assessor's Parcel Number: 006-180-019 At this time, Environmental Health Services recommends a hydro-geological evaluation be conducted to consider the limitations and availability of water of the said parcel. If you have any questions, please contact me at (925) 646-5225 x209, weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Sincerely, Ed Diaz, REHS Senior Environmental Health Specialist '-L (I�- Dennis M.'Barr �on1r�^IuI"���y Uo Xtra Community D Development Costa Department County RECF_!`!ED County Administration uli TRA C0STA COUNTY 651 Pine Street _ `' `' 4th Floor North Win g MSK 0 � 2005 Martinez, California 945 3-)095 _ . (925)335-1210 BUILDING INSPECTION Phone: DEPEIR.TIv?ENT �p CP Date: � �J AGENCY COMMENT REQUEST We request your comments reaardinQ the attached application currently under review. DISTRIBUTION Please submit your comments as foClows: Building Inspection HSD,Environmental Health, Concord Project Planner HSD,Hazardous Materials P/W - Flood Control (Full Size) County File P/W-Engineering Svcs (Full Size) Number: Date Forwarded , P/W Traffic (Reduced) Prior To: P/W Special Districts (Reduced) Comprehensive Planning We have found the following special programs _.Redevelopment Agency apply to this application: Historical Resources Information System —CA Native Amer. Her. Comm. Redevelopment Area CA Fish & Game, Region _US Fish & Wildlife Service V Active Fault Zone Fire District C d' h ,f,4 )LI or iq . Sanitary District C- Flood Hazard Area, Panel # _Water District City 60 dBA Noise Control School District _.Sheriff Office - Admin (' , Fr nmm_ .Syrc, CA t..PA 14n7grrrimic W�cto .Cite Alamo Improvement Association El Sobrante Plg. & Zoning Committee Traffic Zone —MAC DOIT - Dep. Director, Communications CEOA Exempt i'A t it j d i in Community Organizations . HT1 P�I�I..:r-41 ..,� V-c.+�� �'�Y G7 c,\�✓ Please indicate the code section of recommendations that are required by law or ordinance. Please send copies of your response to the Applicant& Owner. No comments on this application. Our Comments are alb*+ / Comments: 1b Cu _ VWyZ k 2�c,1 C Yb�, P4�,p-tc-j NO t`U G S/gnatur C.„✓�A w► t.�,:i,Z:!i} 2.�j c( C k3 C �1 w n '7?i3'E A-CCe ss j f;i L L—r f 0-1r�,.k_R,u2-c M VW 1- 0r- Agency - S:current plan ninJtemplates/forms(agency comment request Date ncf u nn Fr id a•nn zz:nn " iCe ours o, da; „da; a.,,,. ;., ,. Office is closed the 1 st, 3rd & 5th Fridays of each month I ^ - J- � rJonn is M. Barry, AICP Com mu n i Ly �� ' �—JUl I LI i::t Community Development Director Development Costa v-epartment County County Administration Building -07 ti S_E�L 651 Pine Street 4th Floor, North Wing �',;1 p_ '` �j��': 2✓ Martinez, California 94553-0095 (925)337-1210 . . �J Phone: r-couN`� AGENCY COMMENT REQUEST We request your comments regarding the attached application currently under review. DISTRIBUTION Please submit your comments as follows: Riiildi inspection HSD, Environmental Health, Concord Project Planner HSD, Hazardous Materials _P/W- Flood Control (Full Size) County File P/W- Engineering Svcs (Full Size) Number: Z Ou Z i ts Date Forwarded _P/W Traffic (Reduced) Prior To: _P/W Special Districts.(Reduced) Comprehensive Planning We have found the following special programs Redevelopment Agency apply to this application: Historical Resources Information System CA Native Amer. Her. Comm. Redevelopment Area CA Fish & Game,Region _US Fish & Wildlife Service Active Fault Zone Fire District h J�4 mon q . Sanitary District Flood Hazard Area, Panel # _Water District City 60 dBA Noise Control _School District ghpriff OffirP - Admin. X, Comm. Cvrc. CA RPA i4a7arr1niic W-sctn .Citi- Alamo Improvement Association El Sobrante Pig. & Zoning Committee Traffic Zone _ MAC DOIT - Den. Director; Communications CEOA Exempt CA(—1 i--/A A iamn r nrinyiSeuicn Comrn unity Organizations Gid.,C4w Please indicate the code section of recommendations that are required by lana-or ordinance. Please send copies of your response to the Applicant & Owner. No comments on this application. y/Our Comments are attached Comments: "I - �� "�' Signature IJI,r;' 1 R 2005 Agenci: S:CUrrent planninakempiates/So7rAs7a�,enc��comment request Date r inn 'idav: 4:C0 a.r^ 5'OC' p.m. U ffi%e �iourj *v vriday Fr ,- - Office is closed the 1st, 3rd & 5th Fridays of each month �� � SAN RAMON VALLEY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORTS OCTOBER 19, 2005, APRIL 19, 20069 AND JUNE 21, 2006 Agenda Itern # Community Development Contra Costa County BOARD OF APPEALS SAN RAMON VALLEY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21. 200.5 - 7:00 P.M. (Heard October 19, 2005) L INTRODUCTION BRUCE and DALE SPRINGER, (Applicants & Owners); County File 4LP042118: a hearing on an appeal filed by the applicants regarding the Zoning Administrator's action in approving the,Land Use Permit to operate a winery and olive oil mill including retail sales of wine and a tasting room, within existing structures. The three appealed conditions are: (a) a restriction against holding special.events, (b) a condition requiring landscaping of an area north of the barn, and (c) a requirement for sight-distance study. The application includes a request for an Alcohol Beverage Sales Commercial Use. The applicant also requests a variance to the requirement that the parking lot be paved, on an approximately 23 acre property located at 1090 Victorine Road, west side, north of Highland Road, North Livermore Area,(A-80) (ZA: W-22M) (CT: 3551.03) (Parcel 006-180-019). Il. RECOMMENDATION That the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission sustain the Zoning Administrator's decision to approve the winery and olive oil mill application subject to a prohibition on special events and the other related matters, because: • While special events is one of the uses that may be considered in approving a winery and/or olive oil mill, there is the understanding that such activities occur on sites well suited for handling larger amounts of traffic and without adversely impacting adjacent residences; and • Although the area is characterized by large-acreage ranch parcels, there is a cluster of houses in relatively close proximity to one another near the subject property; and File LP042118 September 21, 2005, • A significant amount of neighborhood opposition has been generated over the proposed Land Use Permit; however, with the removal of special events from the allowed uses,the operation of the winery and tasting room is apparently satisfactory to the neighboring property owners. • The condition of approval regarding landscaping north of the barn should be upheld to provide a visual screen for the neighbor:to the north. • Some clarifying language should be added to Condition 23, as indicated below, to limit the applicant's obligation if sight distance does not meet the indicated standard. III. 'BACKGROUND OF PROJECT Bruce and Dale Springer, the project owners and applicants, have applied for a Land Use Permit to operate a winery and olive oil mill including a tasting room and retail sales of wine on a parcel containing 23 acres. All buildings proposed to be a part of the use are existing. As originally proposed,the use would include up to 50'special events such as weddings, receptions, etc. per year. Two other winery land use permits had been approved in 2005 with a limitation of 20.special.events per year. The Zoning Administrator in approving the permit on July 11, 2005 eliminated all special events as part of the approval of the winery and olive oil mill.. Off-street parking is proposed. A variance to the requirement for paving the required parking is requested (Zoning Ordinance Section 82-16.012). An all- weather, off-street parking area of about 10 gravel.spaces is located around the barn/winery building near the northern boundary of the property. Six spaces are striped along the side of the bam-and a wide gravel area on each . end of the barn could accommodate at least two spaces per end. A similar number of unmarked spaces on gravel could be located adjacent to the house/tasting room. Additional spaces on grass are proposed along_the driveway leading to the residence/tasting room in the west=center area of the property. The number of potential spaces exceeds the number of spaces required by the Zoning Ordinance, based on,building size which is six for the tasting room and five for the barn/winery building. IV. SITE/AREA DESCRIPTION Victorine Road extends north from Highland Road near the Contra Costa County/Alameda County line. Although zoned A780, the nearby area mostly consists of rural,ranchettes in the 20 to 40 acre parcel size range mixed with a few large-acreage ranches. A neighboring home is just to the north of the barn on the subject property near the common property line (Leonardini): Another home is to the south on an adjacent 20 acre parcel. The site is about 1.4 miles north of the Alameda County line and about 6.5 miles to I-580 in Livermore. Much steeper hills extend to the north in the direction of Mount Diablo. The S-2 File LP042118 Septembe7-21, 2005 area is rolling to slightly hilly ranchland with few trees. Victorine Road is a narrow 16-foot wide, dead-end road within a 40 foot right-of-way that connects to Highland Road to the south. Highland Road connects to North Livermore Avenue to the east and to Camino Tassajara to the west. As described in more detail in the attached staff report for the June 20, 2005, Zoning Administrator meeting, the subject property is developed with a large newer home of about 8000 gross square feet proposed to be used for the tasting room and sales area, and a 2400 square foot barn located about 450 feet away near the northern property line proposed to be used for the winery. Several acres of olive trees have been planted on the site. The site is gently rolling with its highest area near the center where the house is located. Olive trees are planted between the house and the road. Future vineyards are proposed near the northeast corner of the property. No creeks, wetlands or other water bodies are located where any development is existing or proposed. There are few trees, other than the small recently planted olive trees on the site. An oak tree is near the western property line which would not be removed. V. REVIEW OF ZONING ADMINISTRATOR HEARING This matter was heard by the Zoning Administrator on June 20, 2005. Attached is a copy of the staff report from the Zoning Administrator's hearing. The applicant submitted a binder containing support letters, articles, maps and photographs of the site and area. Several letters in opposition were received as well as three speakers opposed the application. After taking testimony, the Zoning Administrator took the matter under advisement and continued it to July 11, 2005, at which time she approved the project with modifications to the staff recommendation for approval by making several changes including: (a) eliminating all special events (b) prohibiting use of the barn for wine-tasting and retail sales (c) requiring the planting of a landscaping screen along the north side of the barn (d) puttingg-a cap on the number of large trucks (10 wheels or more) used to bring in grapes to 10 per year The applicant appealed the Zoning Administrator's action by the attached letter dated received July 9, 2005. S-3 File LP042118 September 21, 2005 VI. SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF APPEAL The applicant's appeal letter raises the following points in support of their application: 1. 'The special events use would not be a nuisance and is a normal and important part of the winery/olive oil mill operation.. 2. The landscaping along the area north of the'barn is unwarranted because the area is a utility storage area. They would prefer a requirement for a redwood fence. 3. A condition of approval regarding sight-distance at the Victorine/Highland intersection requested by the Public Works Department may be difficult to achieve because doing so may be outside the applicant's purview. They request instead that they provide a 3-way Stop at this..T-intersection.. VII. REVIEW-0F APPEAL POINTS 1. Appeal Point- The special events,use is not a nuisance and is a normal and important part of the winery/olive oil mill operation. Staff Response: The fear that special events would be a nuisance'was clearly. important to the neighbors who particularly opposed this aspect of the application. The applicants originally proposed 50 special events per year; the. staff recommendation to the Zoning Administrator proposed reducing it to 20 per year which is the number that had been imposed on two other recent winery Land Use Permits approved'in East Contra Costa County without opposition. The Zoning Administrator eliminated.all special events on the basis of probable nuisance in this specific situation. The Board of Supervisors and the County Agricultural Advisory Task Force have evaluated the use of wineries and olive oil mills as uses that would promote the retention of economically viable agriculture by making continued agricultural use more profitable without introducing incompatible uses inconsistent with the preservation of agriculture. Because of the popularity of wine, wine tasting and to a lesser extent olive oil.mills,these uses may be " considered for approval within the Agricultural Land areas. The Development Guidelines for Wineries and Olive Oil Mills were adopted by the Board of Supervisors on April 9, 2004(contained in the attached Zoning Administrator staff report) contain a provision allowing special events; but subject to nuisance and traffic considerations. The following is the relevant excerpt from adopted guidelines dealing with special events: S-4 File LP042118 September 21, 200 Special Events: Allow for use of winery facilities for a limited number of special events such as weddings, fundraisers, anniversaries, winemaker dinner, or similar events, subject to the limitations on the number of days and hours as defined in the land use permit. The applicant for a land use permit shall identify the number of special events that would occur during a typical year, the days for special events (weekday or weekend), the duration and hours for special events, and the maximum size of special events(number of persons expected to attend), when requesting permission to conduct special events at the winery (olive oil mill) as part of the land use permit. The determination on granting special events in conjunction with the land use permit shall be based in part on public safety considerations; including access and parking, compatibility with nearby agricultural operations, and community disruption, such as noise or traffic congestion. The intention is to allow a limited number and size of special events, which are not injurious to public safety, not incompatible with nearby agricultural operations, and not disruptive to the community, in winery locations that are appropriate for holding special events. The Zoning Administrator determined that this area is not one that is appropriate for holding special events because of a higher than normal probability of creating a nuisance for adjacent property owners. Traffic impact may be a secondary concern; however,the Public Works Department did not find that the access was inadequate. 2. Appeal Point- The landscaping requirement along the area north of the barn is unwarranted because the area is a utility storage area. They would prefer a requirement for a redwood fence. Staff Response: Prior to applying for the Land Use Permit, the applicant had chosen to construct a barn that is not particularly attractive at a location, although conforming with the A-80 regulations, which is relatively close to the residence of the neighbor to the north(Leonardini). The provision of landscaping at this point would help mitigate the impacts of the barn/storage yard use at a readily visible location-for the neighbor. A fence in addition to landscaping would not be opposed by staff. 3. Appeal Point-A condition of approval regarding sight-distance at the Victorine/Highland intersection requested by the Public Works Department may be difficult to achieve because, doing so may be outside the applicant's purview. They request instead that they provide a 3-way Stop at this T-intersection. Staff Response: The Public Works Department does not feel that a 3-way stop is warranted at the intersection. Condition 23. states: "The applicant shall provide adequate sight distance at the intersection of Victorine Road and Highland Road for a through traffic design speed of 45 miles per hour." S-5 - File LP042118 September 21_2005 Staff would agree that this condition of approval leaves unclear what the applicant can then do if the sight-distance does not comply with the indicated criteria. Some clarifying language could be added to say that "If the indicated design speeds are not achievable, the applicant's obligation is limited to clearing of vegetation within the right-of-way". It would not seem reasonable to expect'the applicant to reconstruct the intersection to improve sight- distance. VIII. APPLICABLE GENERAL PLAN POLICIES —The Land Use Plan designates the site Agricultural Lands (AL). Activities of the character of the proposed use are consistent with this designation. The site also lies outside of the Urban Limit Line. The proposed activity, although commercial, has been found to be consistent with the 65/35 Land, Conservation Plan. IX. APPLICABLE ZONING ORDINANCE REGULATIONS AND FINDINGS AGRICULTURAL. A-80 ZONE. The proposed winery/olive oil mill is one of the uses that have been specifically found by the Board of Supervisors to be appropriate in areas of the County planned for agriculture. A winery and/or olive oil mill may be permitted subject to a Land Use Permit in the A-80 zone. The subject parcel, although below 80 acres in area, Was"approved by a Lot Line Adjustment and variance in 2000. X. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Proposed Adoption of a Negative Declaration The application was submitted on November 15,2004, but not deemed complete until March 3, 2005. The Initial,Studv did not identify any potentially significant impacts. The public comment period for the Negative Declaration was from April 28, 200,5, until May 18, 2005, allowing a 20-day review.period. Several comment letters on the Negative Declaration were received from neighbors as well as from the Environmental Health Division of the Contra Costa Health Services Department. The Health Services, Environmental Health Division reported that approval.from the San Francisco Bay Area Regional Water Quality Control Board will be required before the commencement of use, and that the septic system, water supply and food service would require Environmental Health approvals. The letters from.neighboring residents dealt with potential traffic impacts, nuisances, incompatible business activity and ground water depletion. There was particular concern with the existing high levels of traffic on Highland S-6 PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CONTRA COSTA COUNTY DATE: September 14; 2005 TO: Michael Henn, Project Planner, Community Development Department FROM: Monish Sen, Associate Civil Engineer, Engineering Service SUBJECT: APPEAL OF LAND USE PERMIT LP 04-2118 SIGHT DISTANCE AT THE INTERSECTION OF VICTORINE AND HIGHLAND ROAD (Dale Ann Springer/Victorine Road/A.P4 006-180-019) As part of the appeal for LP 04-2118, the applicant is questioning condition of approval 423 which relates to the evaluation of available sight distance at the intersection of Victorine Road and Highland Road. Due to the concerns raised by the applicant, Public Works staff visited the site to better determine existing conditions. Sight distance was measured and checiced for both legs of Highland Road at its intersection with✓Victorine'Road. Based upon Caltrans stopping sight distance standards for a 45 mile per hour design speed on Highland Road, it was determined that sight distance is currently adequate for the Northwestern leg of Highland Road, when analyzed from the intersection with Victorine Road. However, the required sight distance was found to be obstructed along the Southeastern leg of Highland Road, due to the existing horizontal roadway alignment and vegetation along the north side of the road. As a result of the site visit, Public Works is recommending that the applicant not be required to improve the sight distance at the intersection of Highland and Victorine Roads. This is due to the location of the intersection of Highland and Victorine Roads relative to the proposed pro)ect and the nature of the existing -conditions along Highland Road. The sight distance issue at this intersection has been referred to the Traffic Section of the Public Works Department for consideration. Further evaluation will be conducted and the appropriate steps taken to improve the situation, if deemed necessary. The Public Works Department recommends that Condition of Approval 423 be deleted from the conditions of approval as approved by the Zoning, Administrator. This should address Appeal Point 43, made by the applicant. The applicants request to provide a three way stop has also been forwarded to the Traffic Section of the Public Works Department and is being. analyzed. There has been a preliminary indication that warrants can not be met to install a three way stop and that this would not be the preferred option for improving the intersection. Any improvements that may be required at the intersection will be designed and implemented by the Public Works Department. MS: G:\GmData\enuSvc\MonishL005\Septem'oer\Sigilt Distance Memo to Mike Henn LP 04-03118(Finalj.00c cc: B.Balbas.Engineermp Services E.Wham.Engineering Services J.Fail,,,.Transportation Engineering .Aruna Bltat.Communitv Develooment Dcmartment Daie Ann Springer, 1090 Victonne Road.Livermore.CF.94551 S .t Agenda Itern 4 Community Development Contra Costa County BOARD OF APPEALS SAN RAMON VALLEY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION WEDNESDAY APRIL 19, 2006 - 7:00 P.M. I. INTRODUCTION BRUCE and DALE SPRINGER, (Appellants, Applicants & Owners); County File 4LP042118: An appeal of the Zoning Administrator's action to approve a Land Use Permit to operate a winery and olive oil mill including retail sales of wine and a tasting room, within existing structures. The three appealed conditions.are: (a) a restriction against holding special events, (b) a condition requiring landscaping of an area north of the barn, and (c) a requirement for a sight-distance study. The application includes a request for an Alcohol Beverage Sales Commercial Use. The applicant also requests a variance to the requirement that the parking lot be paved, on an approximately 23 acre property located at 1090 Victorine Road, west side, north of Highland Road, North Livermore Area, (A-80) (ZA: W-22M) (CT: 3551.03) (Parcel 006-180-019). IL RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission sustain the Zoning Administrator's decision to approve the winery and olive oil mill application subject to modified conditions of approval. III. BACKGROUND OF PROJECT Bruce and Dale Springer, the project owners and applicants, applied for a Land Use Permit to operate a winery and olive oil mill including a tasting room and retail sales of wine on a parcel containing 23 acres. All buildings proposed to be a part of the use are existing. As originally proposed, the use would include up to 50 special events such as weddings, receptions, etc. per year. The Zoning Administrator in approving the permit on July 11, 2005, approved the winery, the olive oil mill, retail sales and a tasting room. However, the Zoning Administrator eliminated all special events as part of the approval of the winery and olive oil mill. The Zoning Administrator also File LP042118 April 19, 2006 added a condition of approval requiring a landscape screen along the area north of the barn and storage area to provide a more aesthetic buffer for the residence to the north. The applicants also appealed a sight-distance condition of approval from Public Works. However,the Public Works Department has agreed to eliminate that condition of approval (#23). The current items under appeal relate only to special events and landscaping along the northern property line. However, on appeal, the matter is considered a de'novo hearing and the commission is not limited to addressing the matters appealed. This matter was heard by the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission on October 19, 2005, and continued to November 16, 2005 when it was re-continued to February 8, 2006 at the applicant's request, when it was again continued at the applicant's request to this date. This unusual six-month sequence of continuances was all initiated at the applicant's request. At the October 19th hearing, the applicants were not present, but because there were several members of the public wanting to speak, the commission allowed public testimony. Most of the testimony dealt with objections to special events being held in conjunction with the winery and olive oil mill. The commission asked the applicant to provide additional information as to what kinds of special events might they be proposing and asked for a distinction between events that.relate more directly to wine making like growers/vintners meetings versus events where the winery was merely an attractive venue for activities , like weddings or receptions. This request was passed on to the applicants by .letter on October 24, 2005. Other discussion at the October 19`h hearing dealt with the relationship of special events connected with a winery and the County's new Temporary Events Ordinance. Staff has further reviewed the Temporary Events Ordinance and concluded that that ordinance would not grant any rights to conduct the types of special events that are being proposed by the applicants and opposed by neighborsas part of the subject application. The Temporary Events Ordinance was written to give additional control of non-commercial activities of a temporary nature. A winery or olive oil mill which held weddings or wedding receptions for profit would not fall under the non- commercial category nor would it be "temporary" but rather an occasional but regularly reoccurring part of a business operation and evaluated as partof the application. Please refer to the staff report considered at the October 19, 2005 San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission public hearing for background details. Staff is expecting a revised submittal from the applicants to be sent to the commission. There was also a folder prepared by the applicant and submitted with the original application in February 2005 for the Zoning Administrator Bearing that is now included for the commission. Staff apologizes that this was not sent to the commission for the first commission,hearing. Letters S-2 File LP0421I S April 19, 2006 received since the October 19, 2005 public hearing are attached to this updated report. Letters received before the October 19`' report were part of the earlier packet have not been re-run but are part of the record and the commission has copies of that material. GAcurrent planning\staff reports\Ip042118srvrpc.rpt+2 MH/AB S-3 Previously Recommended Condition of Approval as deleted by Zoning Administrator in July 11, 2005 Action on LP042118 Special Events: 7. Accessory uses are limited to special events including weddings, receptions, small non-profit fundraisers and similar events and subject to the following restrictions: a. All special events in total are not to be held more than 20 times per year,'and are limited to Saturdays and Sundays and the Mondays that fall on a Federally designated Holiday. b. Amplified sound shall be limited to the hours between 10:00 AM and dusk. c. The number of people at any single event shall not exceed 120 persons. d. Events that include food service shall be subject to prior approval by the Health Services Department. e. Lighting shall be limited to the minimal level of security lighting as approved by the Zoning Administrator. f. Events such as rock concerts, hip-hop concerts or dances or similar musical presentations where the music is the principal activity are expressly prohibited. g. The owner shall make every effort to contain all aspects of special events on the property including parking. The Zoning Administrator, upon receipt of complaints of nuisance resulting from special events, may require that the owner provide security officers/patrol persons to be on duty during special events. If confirmed violations of these conditions occur, the continuance of special events is subject to revocation after notice pursuant to Zoning Ordinance Section 82-2.2026. � �\lc�l lUlcti.� 14i �•� 51201 (e) "Compatible use" is any use determined by the county or city administering the preserve pursuant to Section 51231, 51238, or 51238. 1 or by this act to be compatible with the agricultural, recreational, or open-space use of land within the preserve and subject to contract. "Compatible use" includes agricultural use, recreational use or open-space use unless the board or council finds after notice and hearing that the use is not compatible with the agricultural, recreational or open-space use to which the land is restricted by contractpursuant to this chapter. 51250. (a) The purpose of this section is to identify certain structures that constitute material breaches of contract under this chapter and to provide an alternate remedy to a contract cancellation petition by the landowner. Accordingly, this remedy is in addition to any other available remedies for breach of contract. Except as expressly provided in this section, this section is not intended to change the existing land use decisionmaking and enforcement authority of cities and counties including the authority conferred upon them by this chapter to administer agricultural preserves and contracts. (b) For purposes of this section, a breach is material if, on a parcel under contract, both of the following conditions are met: (1) A commercial, industrial, or residential building is constructed that is not allowed by this chapter or the contract, local uniform rules or ordinances consistent with the provisions of - this chapter, and that is not related to an agricultural use or compatible use. (2) The total area of all of the building or buildings likely causing the breach exceeds 2, 500 square feet for either of the following: (A) All property subject to any contract or all contiguous property subject to a contract or contracts owned by the same landowner or landowners on January 1, 2004 . (B) All property subject to a contract entered into after January 1, 2004, covering property not subject to a contract on January 1, 2004 . For purposes of this subdivision any additional parcels not specified in the legal description that accompanied the contract, as it existed prior to January 1, 2003, including any parcel created or recognized within an existing contract by subdivision, deed, partition, or, pursuant to Section 66499.35, by certificate of compliance, shall not increase the limitation of this subdivision. (c) The department shall notify the city or county if the department discovers a possible breach. Agenda Itern # Community Development Contra Costa County BOARD OF APPEALS. SAN RAMON VALLEY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION WEDNESDAY JUNE 21. 2006 - 7:00 P.M. L INTRODUCTION BRUCE and DALE SPRINGER, (Appellants, Applicants & Owners); County File #LP042118: An appeal of the Zoning Administrator's action to approve a Land Use Permit to operate a winery and olive oil mill including retail sales of wine and a tasting room, within existing structures. The three appealed conditions are: (a) a restriction against holding special events, (b) a condition requiring landscaping of an area north of the barn, and (c) a requirement for a sight-distance study. The application includes a request for an Alcohol Beverage Sales Commercial Use. The applicant also requests a variance to the requirement that the parking lot be paved, on an approximately 23 acre property located at 1090 Victorine Road, west side, north of Highland Road, North Livermore Area, (A-80) (ZA: W-22M) (CT: 3551.03) (Parcel 006-180- 019). II. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission sustain the Zoning Administrator's decision to approve the winery and olive oil mill application subject to modified conditions of approval. III. BACKGROUND OF PROJECT Bruce and Dale Springer, the project owners and applicants, applied for a Land Use Permit to operate a winery and olive oil mill including a tasting room and retail sales of wine on a parcel containing 23 acres. All buildings proposed to be a part of the use are existing. As originally proposed, the use would include up to 50 special events such as weddings, receptions, etc. per year. The Zoning Administrator in approving the permit on July 11, 2005, approved the winery, the olive oil mill, retail sales and a tasting room. However, the Zoning Administrator eliminated all special events as part of the approval of the winery and olive oil mill. The Zoning Administrator also File LP042118 June 21, 2006 added a condition of approval requiring a landscape screen along the area north of the barn and storage area to provide a more aesthetic buffer for the residence to the north. The applicants also appealed a sight-distance condition of approval from Public Works. However, the Public Works Department has agreed to eliminate that condition of approval (923).-The current items under appeal relate only to special events and landscaping along the northem property line. However, on appeal, the matter is considered a de novo hearing and the commission is not limited to addressing the matters appealed. This matter was heard by the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission on October 19, 2005,.and again on April 19, 2006. At the second meeting the Commission, after taking lengthy testimony both in support and in opposition, requested that the applicants provide a clearer site plan and provide a narrative that describes in greater detail how they would operate the special events that they are proposing. The applicants have provided a revised plan based on an air-photo and having done their own surveying of grades. They have also provided a narrative giving more information on how they would want to operate the special events, if approved. In brief, the applicants indicated their desire to have up to 50 special events per year to occur on Friday evenings and weekends, till as late as 10:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 9:00 pm on Sunday evenings. They would be able to provide 100 parking spaces on the nearly level area southeast of the house. The special events "activity pad" would be located south of their house. IV. Discussion The new materials may not be as professionally done as the Commission normally sees. However, based on staff familiarity with the site, the plans/photos do provide support for the applicant's position that they do have enough level space for 100-120 cars without grading. The proposed site for the special event pad would have less adverse effects on neighbors than sites previously discussed. Nevertheless, staff still recommends that the.Land Use Permit remain as approved by the Zoning Administrator with respect to special events. The subject area is a small cluster of homes in relatively close proximity to one another and it is not demonstrated that the operation of even 20 special events, let alone the 50 that are sought, would not constitute a nuisance for the area residents. When the matter was before the Zoning Administrator, and the applicant had been seeking the option of conducting the wine/olive oil sales and tasting in. the barn or the house, the Zoning Administrator modified the conditions of approval to delete the option of using the barn for that use. Nevertheless, the action taken at that time merely deleted the option of using either facility rather than explicitly stating that the use could only occur in the house. Therefore to eliminate any future confusion staff recommends that Condition of Approval No. l be amended as follows: (new language underlined) S-2 File LP042118 June 21, 2006 1. Development of a winery and tasting room including alcohol sales, and an olive oil mill on subject property is approved as shown on the site plan dated received November 15, 2004 and the building elevations and floor plans dated received February 22, 2005. a. No winery operation, wine tasting or wine sales shall occur until the planting of a vineyard at substantially the same area as that shown on the approved site plan is completed. b. The wine and olive oil tasting and sales shall be conducted only in the main dwelling and is expressly prohibited from occurring in the barn. Williamson Act: Several neighbors have expressed the belief that the operation of a winery/olive oil mill with retail sales and special events would cause a violation of the applicant's Williamson Act contract. Staff has reviewed this question during the consideration of the Development Guidelines for Wineries and Olive Oil Mills and does not agree with those objecting neighbors. Local agencies are granted discretion by the Williamson Act (Government Code 51201 (e)to determine compatibility of uses under that law. The use must be found to be related to agricultural use and not undermine or interfere with agricultural use. The Board of Supervisors, by adopting the winery development guidelines confirms the local determination that wineries, with or without special events, have been found.to be compatible uses under the Williamson Act. Please refer to the staff reports and attachments considered at the April 19, 2006 San Ramon Valley_ Regional Planning Commission public hearing for background details. G:\current planning\staff reports\lp042118srvrpc.rpt#3 MH/AB S-3 1 1 1 } �. 1 1 SUPPORTING LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS LP042118-Letters/submittals in support of the application/appeal L M/M Springer ZA appeal letter 6/21/05 2. M/M Springer letter 5/25/05 3. .M/M Springer letter 6/21/05 4. M/M Springer letter 7/5/05 5. Dale Springer letter 5/19/05 6 Thom Reinstein 6/14/05 7. Art and Diane Reinstein letter 6/18/05 S. T. Wood letter 6/6/05 9. L. Robinson letter 6/6/05 10. M. Murray letter 6/6/05 11. Dale Giessman letter 4/10/06 12. Neil Cohn letter 4/10/06 13. Livermore Valley Wine Growers Association letter 4/3/06 14. Tom Powers,representing Contra Costa Wine Grape and Olive Growers Assn. letter 4/17/06 15. Hoge, Fenton, Jones & Arpel letter, 4/19/06 Bruce and Dale Ann Springer Sunol Ridge Ranch 1090 Victorine Road L Livermore, CA 94551 Jul21, 2005 Michael Henn Community Development Department Contra Costa County 651 Pine Street,North Wing, 4`" Floor Martinez, CA 94553 Re: Springdale Manor Winery Application Request for Appeal of Zoning Administrator Findings File#LP042118 Dear Mr. Henn: During the hearing, Zoning Administrator Bhat indicated that Administrative item l.a. was eliminated, yet it was included in the Findings report I received from You office today. Can you please clarify the status of this item? We respectfully request that the three following codings be appealed: Conditions of Approval Special Events: 7. We believe that limited gatherings are an important aspect of the winery and olive mill operation, and request that permission be granted for such use. Landscaping: 8. We request that the north wall barn landscaping provision be changed to "provide redwood fencing between existing fencing to the north of the barn and the north east corner of the barn". The area to the north of the barn is a utility storage yard; will not have any public access, and is being preserved as such to act as a buffer and minimize public access to the Leonardini property to the north. Current and planned landscape mitigation continues to improve the Leonardim residence view shed to the south. Sight Distances: 21 The sight distance stipulation is not within our purview, and overlooks the current speed regulations for Highland Road. The intersection of Victorine and Highland is a junction of two county roads. The posted speed limit for Highland is 35 miles per hour, with a posted 25 mile per hour curve speed warning approaching Victorine in both directions. However, as a good faith gesture to our fellow neighbors on Victorine who have difficulty with the extensive commute traffic on Highland, with the County's permission we will volunteer to install a three-way stop sign junction at that T-intersection. Again, we would like to thank you for all your efforts, time and consideration. Best reg Bruce and Dale Ann pri er Bruce and Dale Ann Springer Sunol Ridge Ranch 1090 Victorine Road Livermore, CA 94551 May 25,2005 Michael Henn Community Development Department Contra Costa County 651 Pine Street,North Wing, 4t' Floor Martinez, CA 94553 Re: Springdale Manor Winery Application File# LP042118 Dear Mr. Henn, We have provided you with our response to the negative input from two disgruntled neighborhood families. However, the vast majority of families residing on Victorine Road and the abutting area are unopposed to our application_ They include but are not limited to the Allen family, the Hermanson family,the Remstein family, Jeff Hicks, the Wood family,the Diaz family, and the Murry family. We are obtaining written confirmation of their position and will forward to you as soon as they are received. We have included a brochure that clearly states the nature and positive impact to the community of the small winery operation. In addition to opening up previously inaccessible rural lands for public enjoyment, it provides an excellent vehicle for creating a self sustainable business, and adds to the agricultural land tax base. Our proposal is not revolutionary, on the contrary the brochure clearly shows that the Livermore area is already one of the leading wine revenue producers in the United States. There is additional support information that is being gathered, and we will provide this to you in the next few days. If you have any questions or comments, please be sure to contact us. Best regards, Bruce and Dale Ann Springer c Rebuttal to Neighbor's Negative Comments 1. Vera Reinstein 1.1. Impact-Mrs. Reinstein is not an immediate neighbor and lives on Carnal Road, about two miles from our house. As such our proposed endeavor will little.if any affect on her residence. However, we are willing to respond to her comments. 1.2. Parcel Size - This 23 acre parcel was created by lot line adjustments of parcels of equal size or less, which were grandfathered under the Williamson Act as existing before the enactment of the 80 acre parcel minimum. 1.3. Cattle Country-Due to increasing costs and lowered cattle prices the area is moving out of the cattle business. However, community pressure is to keep the area as rural as possible and small alternative agricultural and related endeavors are the best option. See the Times article by Livermore Mayor Marshall Kamena which supports such activity. And this parcel is within the LAFCO Livermore sphere of influence. 1.4. Parkin Lot/Events- A wavier has been requested to eliminate the regulation for a paved parking lot. We appreciate Mrs. Reinstein's implicit support of our request. What little guest parking is needed will be done in the designate open mowed field east of the residence and behind the existing water facility, blocking the line of sight for all but one of our neighbors and out of view from Victorine Road. Events would be typical of those conducted by the small boutique wineries in the Livermore Valley such as business meetings, week- end lunches, and an occasional wedding. 1.5. Traffic-The week-day commuter traffic problem on the adjacent county roads is a separate and stand alone issue, and will have no impact on the relatively few vehicles that might use such roads on the week-ends to visit our ranch. 1.6. Parcel Size-Of the nine legal properties on Victorine Road, only two are 80 acres or more. Ironically, after opposing the Reinsteins attempt to place two more lot line adjusted parcels on Victorine for traffic and quality of life concerns,the Leonardini family has recently sold a 46 acre piece fronting on Victorine that added one more under 80 acre lot to the street. 2. Christopher Wright 2.1 Proximity-Mr. Wright claims to be the closest house and is located about 500 yards from-our residence, while the Robinson residence is 100 yards. The Robinson's support our application. 2? Generator Noise/Business Operation/Citizens - The comment about the generator running "24 hours a day for weeks" is untrue. And Mr. Wright never contacted us about his perception of generator noise and we have yet had the opportunity to speak with him. Such "retail sales will likely be limited to week-end daylight hours only. The County has physically confirmed that no illegal business is conducted from our'barn. We consider ourselves to he responsible, stalwart citizens who have a,well documented history of caring for the welfare of our neighborhood. We sad that such ill feelings exist here and have taken extraordinary steps to try to improve the relationship. 2.3 Zoning Our application is to be able to operate an agriculture based business within the scope specified by the County zoning regulations section 84-42.404. This is not a variance or request for deviation from any specified rule or law. 14 Historical Business - Due to increasing costs and lowered cattle prices the area is virtually out of the viable stand-alone cattle industry. However, community pressure is to keep the area as rural as possible and small alternative agricultural and related endeavors are the best option. See the Times article by Livermore Mayor Marshall Kamena which.support such activity. And this parcel, although in Contra Costa County, is within the Livermore sphere of influence. 2.5 Future Business -There are few viable agricultural-related enterprises that can give as much direct public access to rural areas as a winery. It is the best compromise alternative to maintaining the area as rural as possible m' these -times of ever increasing property values and operation costs: I would hope that Mr. Wright would seriously consider this option if and when he decides that ranching is no longer an alternative yet wishes to preserve as much of the old romance as possible, rather than taking the subdivision route. 4 3. Margaret Leonardini 3.1 Victorine Traffic - Victorine Road currently serves 8 residents. The increase in traffic is expected to be minimal given the limited scope of the winery operation. It should also be noted that Victorine is only V2 mile long, and that our entrance is at the 0.4 mile point, and our guests pass by four occupied properties, not including Mrs. Leonardini. By comparison, the County's adjacent one lane Morgan Territory Road which serves as access to approximately 50 residents, a through-fare to Clayton and access to the East Bay Regional Park is a narrower road than Victorine with blind comers and steep drop-offs yet accommodates an estimated 60 times more traffic. 3.2 Water-In 2000 we hired Geoconsultans, Inc., 1450 Koll Circle, Suite 114, San Jose, CA 95112, 408-453-2541, a company which uses state-of-the-art measuring equipment to define the underlying geologic strata in order to locate water sources. The investigating geologic engineer explained that the strata underlying our immediate area is an uplift creating vertically oriented strata which runs essentially east-west, which eliminates the possibility of a wide horizontal aquifers such as that under the central Livermore Valley. He also said.that any aquifers were likely to be very localized, extending east- west,and typically located from a surface perspective in an area less than a 25' radius, and can be as small as 5'. Geoconsultants conducted an exhaustive survey, which found no possibility of water in the proximity of our property line with the Leonardini's, which means that her aquifer does not extend to our property. Again, with the sloped east-west strata the likelihood of our parcel sharing a common water source with the Leonardini well is virtually nonexistent according to Geoconsultants. They located two positive spots. one 125' south of our residence and the other about 200' to the northeast. A well was established on the south spot, but after two years the equipment collapsed due to a shoddy well installation by the contractor and ceased being a viable producer. So a new well was installed on the second spot. The geotechnical engineer stated that further evidence of the discrete localized nature of wells in this area can be shown by the water analysis. Pumps drawing from the same aquifer will have similar water chemistry and physical properties. Yet looking at the two-wells on our property less than 400' apart the analysis is dramatically different. And it's the same case comparing the analysis from both our wells with our immediate neighbors to the south and with the Leonardini's property to the south east. It is illogical to conclude that Mrs..Leonardini's well is affected by our presence. Mrs. Leonardini sites "so many tanks" as evidence of high water usage that would impact her. To the contrary, a large quantity of surface water storage is the best way to dampen water use cycles by minimizing well water level dramr-down. and it allows the well to maintain a more even level.. And much of our surface water storage is mandated by the San Ramon Valley Fire District. Our water system utilizes a sophisticated well water level monitoring system designed to guarantee that the well will always carry at least a 60 foot water head over the pump. Unlike the typical system employed by our neighbors that doesn't shut the pump down until the well runs dry (i.e., the pump head is zero), our system insures that the aquifer level is well maintained and fluctuates minimally. This also minimizes the impact that our aquifer has on any adjacent connected aquifers and represents the best possible well water management practice. And olives are a drought resistant tree that were selected as much for the low water requirements as for the"crop. 4. Russell and Eloisa Leonardini 4.1 Business Practices - The vineyard is currently under construction,but while the crop is maturing we have a contract with a local Livermore Winery to purchase grapes from them. It takes many year's to establish a reputation and the expense to operate a vineyard starts from the very beginning, hence the logic in starting business operations immediately. Purchasing grapes from other producers for inclusion in a given winery's product is a common practice within the wine industry, and we are intent on providing product grown primarily in Livermore Valley. And the objective of our efforts is not to foster a retail atmosphere but to provide a place where people can enjoy the. rural atmosphere of North Livermore in a wine-based setting. 4.2 Victorine Traffic -Victorine currently serves 8 residents. The-increase in traffic is expected to be minimal given the limited scope of the winery operation. By comparison,the County's adjacent one lane Morgan Territory Road which serves as access to approximately 50 residents, a thoroughfare to Clayton and access to the East Bay Regional Park is narrower road than Victorine with blind corners and steep drop-offs yet accommodates an estimated 60 times more traffic. 5. Linda Leonardini 5.1 Water Use -Raising livestock does not imply conservative water use. Comparing the USDA water statistics for raising cattle with our crop requirements,the annual water volume necessary for our olive trees and grape vines would be only be sufficient for maintaining 6.2 nursing cows. 5.2 Aquifer Impact/Sanitation -Please refer to item 3.2 above. In addition let me underscore the high probability that our well is discrete from our neighbors, the chance of our impacting their wells is almost non-existent, and that we have a system far superior to others in our neighborhood which is designed to enable us to have superior well and aquifer management We are prepared to use port-a-pottys to augment our current oversized septic system'should that become an issue. 1 5.3 Neighborhood Traffic - The week-day commuter traffic problem on the adjacent county roads is a separate and stand alone issue since the commute traffic is outside the time window for our limited winery operation hours. commuters will have no impact on the relatively few vehicles that might use such roads on the week-ends to visit our ranch. However,the commute traffic is a sensitive issue for all of us and such concerns logically spill over to any potential increase of cars on Victorine Road. But let's remember that Victorine currently serves 8 residents. The increase in traffic is expected to be minimal given the limited scope of the winery operation. It should also be noted that Victorine is only `/2 mile long, and that our entrance is at the 0.4 mile point, and our guests pass by four occupied properties. By comparison; the County's adjacent one lane Morgan Territory Road which serves as access to approximately 50 residents,a thoroughfare to Clayton and access to the East Bay Regional Park is a narrower road than Victorine with blind comers and steep drop-offs yet accommodates an estimated 60 times more traffic. It is likely that once per year several trucks would be used to transport grapes or must to our winery. Such increase is road usage is insignificant when compared to the amount of heavy ranching and equipment hauling trucks and trailers that plies Victorine Road.daily. 5.4 Hills act as reflectors and deflect sound waves upward. While it is possible our immediate neighbors might hear some activity, any such sound will be localized due to the terrain. 5.5 Our neighbors all entertain from time to time. Yet we've seen no problems from their guests just as we expect that they will have none with ours. We appreciate the concern about a potential increase in litter, but our biggest local issue is the garbage we consistently find dumped in our neighborhood by city deadbeats that view our rural area as a convenient waste disposal dump. The fact that there might be increased activity on Victorine Road would likely be a positive deterrent to such vandals. 6. Edwin and Judy Wright 6.1 1 cannot address the Reinstein's intentions, but can define facts which differ from the Wright's statement. The Reinstein.'s owned approximately 800 acres made up of 1 l different parcels ranging in size from about 5 acres up to around 280 acres all of which had parcel numbers dating back to the early 19O0's, and were grandfathered as legal parcels(even though many were less than the 80 acre minimum) when the Williamson Act was passed. The Reinstems, after ranching the land since the early 1900's, decided to sell off part of the family holdings since the cattle business had become a marginal enterprise for them. We originally put a deposit on one of their smaller land-locked parcels. Later the Reinsteins determined that the County would entertain a lot line adjustment, provided the number of parcels remained the same (a subdivision means creating more parcels). Notices were sent and hearings held and there was no opposition to the application. Two such parcels were then moved to fronton Victorine Road, the rest on Highland. However, due in part to issues Margaret Lebnardini had With us, the Wrights and Leonardini's opposed the Reinstein's subsequent attempt to further redefine the remaining lot,lines to create two more parcels on Victorine. 6.2 If one canvasses the county roads in this area it will be noted that Victorine Road is maintained in a better condition than the average. The week=day commuter traffic problem on the adjacent county roads is a separate and stand alone issue, and will have no impact on the relatively few vehicles that might use such roads on the week-ends to visit our ranch_ However, the commute traffic is a sensitive issue for all bf us and such concerns logically spill over to P potential increase of cars on Victorine. But let's remember that Victorine currently serves 8 residents..The increase in traffic is expected to be minimal given the limited scope of the winery operation. It should also be noted that Victorine is only 1/2 mile long, and that our entrance is at the 0.4 mile point, and our guests pass by four occupied properties. By comparison,the County's 4acer t one lane Morgan Territory Road which serves as access to approximately 50 residents,a thoroughfare to Clayton, and principal access to the East Bay Regional Park is a narrower road than Victorine with blind corners and steep drop-offs yet accommodates an estimated 60 times more traffic. 6.3 The County agricultural zoning provides for such uses that directly benefit the public in order to make the property a viable economic enterprise, including "wineries and facilities for processing of all agricultural products produced on the premises". 6.4 The fire department is located 4 miles(seven minutes)away. Local policing is handled by Contra Costa Sheriff and California Highway Patrol. Due to the heavy traffic volume on Highland Road the police presencels comparatively high.. However, increased crime rates is not something typically associated with wineries. Our ranch area is.100%mowed to minimize any fire threat and high pressure water outlets exist throughout the property. 6.5 It is sad that the Wrights are "the last of the large acreage ranches," but it is testimony to the economic pressures that have driven most ranchers out of the business in this area_ The Fast Bay Regional Park was established with the vision to "...preserve a priceless heritage of natural and cultural resources open space,parks and trails for the future and set aside park areas for enjoyment and healthful recreation for generations to come."-The public currently pays over $100;000,000 in annual taxes to support this endeavor but it is unlikely that the urban population is willing to provide the tax money to purchase and op--=e the balance of rural areas as they become economically unviable for the livestock business. Regional leaders appreciate this and that there is an ever increasing need for agriculturally oriented"boutique" business use of such land: It allows the area to-retain its rural charm while providing public access that was never possible while operating as a livestock enterprise. It also serves to strengthen the tax base and provide a viable economic alternative to the ever present potential residential development. And given this area's strategic location between Livermore and Blackhawk that pressure is likely to remain as evidenced by Pardee's development efforts in Measure D's sphere just a few miles down the road. Bruce and Dale Ann Springer . Sunol Ridge Ranch 1090 Victorine Road ` Livermore, CA 94551 June 21, 2005 Michael Henn VIA FAX Community Development Department 925-335-1222 Contra Costa County 3 pages total 651 Pine Street,North Wing, 0'Floor Martinez, CA 94553 Re: Springdale Manor Winery Application File # LP042118 Dear Mr. Henn: First, I'd like to make sure that everyone is aware that our effort is based upon our need for a livelihood,.and that is not some casual hobby. As a follow-up to the June 20th hearing before Aruna Bhat there are a couple of items raised by our neighbors that I believe warrant clarification, and we would like to offer voluntary mitigation for those items of public safety and impact. Truck traffic—In the course of our neighbors conducting cattle and other farm related activities we see an estimated 2-3 large trucks per month on Victorine. Cattle trucks can be quite large. Our winery operation would add at the most an average of one truck per month. Mitigation: We are willing to commit to limiting the annual usage for large grape hauling trucks to 10 or less trucks per year. 1090 Victorine driveway entrance—This was evaluated and determined to be within acceptable safety limits. But to reiterate: Since Victorine is a dead-end street the only approach is from the south with our driveway located 0.72 miles north of the Highland intersection. The three neighbors who turn onto Victorine from their driveways to the north at have immediate line of sight to our driveway from a distance of 634 feet. Approaching from the south, the sight line to'the driveway measures 1,109 feet. At a speed of 35 miles per hour(5 1.feet per second) it provides 22 seconds of reaction time. Although Victorine is not striped, it is wide enough to comfortably accommodate two on- coming cars without the need to pull off onto the shoulder with the exception of one 65' section where a large tree has been allowed to encroach on the road. Miti ag tion: We are willing to provide a stop sign to traffic exiting our driveway. With County approval we are willing to improve safety by installing 1) 25-mph signs on Victorine and 2) two speed bumps, one located just north of the driveway at 1080 Victorine and one located just north of the driveway at 1059. Highland Road—Again, traffic on Highland is a stand-alone issue and is a function of itj. ;{ being a convenient by-pass for traffic on Highway 580, and Judy Wright's report of the'--'; accident_rate underscores this. Probably all of us in this area have complained to the county at least once about the situation. 'As was pointed out, weekend traffic is significantly less. An estimated volume of traffic on Highland past the Victorine intersection during the week-day peak rush period is over 600 cars per hour. The highest volume scenario including a maximum capacity gathering at our winery would be an estimated weekend traffic addition of 90 cars per day. Mitigation—Condition upon County approval we are willing to install a three- way stop sign at the intersection of Highland and Victorine. The primary'impact would be to improve safety during week-days. Parking—Concern was express by Stacy Diaz about parking confusion and cars parked all over the place and on the street. Mitigation—We will agree to install such signs on Victorine-as necessary to give a clear indication of our location. We will also agree to insure that such vehicles that enter our premises receive clear parking directions, and that an overflow parking area large enough to accommodate 120% of the maximum anticipated vehicles will be provided: Perspectives: Opposition and Support—In my letter addressed to you on May 25, 2005, I listed the people who had not expressed opposition to our endeavor as of that date. On or about June 12, 2005, Mr. Ed Wright obtained a copy of this letter and began an aggressive campaign to coerce the long time residents of our community who were on that list into writing opposition. Two people told me of his efforts and their discomfort in being forced to choose sides when they would just as soon stay neutral. I asked.one to reiterate his experience to you and he said that he fears the negative reaction from Mr. Wright. However, if you can guarantee that their names not be released to the Wright's or. Leonardini's I can try to get them to talk with you. Art and Diane Reinstein and Susan Hennanson attended the hearing in support of our application. While they did not choose_to speak, their physical presence on our side of the aisle showed their support in addition to their written comments. Vehicle Emissions— Stacy Diaz objected to the potential increase of traffic emissions. Such car emissions are well documented but let's put that into the context of cattle . country.. According to Kansas State University and a study conducted by Corre and Oenema, a single growing heifer will directly emit approximately 3.3. pounds of methane (a green-house gas) per day, and that doesn't include the gasses given off from decomposing cattle feces. On the other hand one car making the round trip from Highland Road to our address on Victorine will emit less than half that. Given that there are over 100 head of cattle surrounding us,that is the equivalent of more than 200.cars visiting per day! With the limited hours of operation and scope of the enterprise we anticipate the maximum annual daily average to be seven cars (with the impact of 3.5 additional cows). Fire Safety We are located in the San Ramon Fire District and they require that non- irrigated grass land properties have a"minimum of thirty foot wide fire breaks around the edge of the property and fire breaks crossing the middle." Our property is the only one on Victorine that has been maintained over the last three years to exceed the minimum standard, while those who cited the fire potential as a hazard are not currently complying with the regulation. Again, we would like to thank you for all your efforts, time and consideration. Best regards, Bruce and Dale Ann Springer IBJ 4` Bruce and Dale Ann Springer 1090 Victorine Road _ Livermore, CA 94551 _ i[ July 5, 2005 Mr. Michael Henn Community Development Department Contra Costa County 651 Pine Street,North Wing, 4th Floor Martinez, CA 94553 Dear Mr. Henn: I am responding to Mrs. Wright's comments regarding two recent gatherings at our home on Victorine. First, both parties were private uncompensated affairs. The first was my wife's class reunion, and the second was a wedding for a good friend that has been planned for over a year. We have held such large family and friend get togethers over the past two and one-half years and not had a single negative comment from any of our neighbors until now. There appears to be a conspiracy of harassment by the two families opposed to our winery application, and Mrs. Wright's letter with its accusatory remarks is one example of that. Another incident of intimidation by the "rancher" Wright/Leonardini faction on Victorine Road occurred during the wedding mentioned above. Russell Leonardini was observed on his ATV with what appeared to be a rifle riding up Victorine Road past our house on that afternoon. Shortly after that shots rang out just north of our place from what sounded like a large caliber gun, and continued sporadically over about the next two hours. It was quite disconcerting to have such a beautiful and solemn occasion threatened by gunfire, and many guests were terrified as the volley of shots increased during the wedding vows. It seemed more than a coincidence that the shooting ceased just after the vows had been completed. It is well known that there is a close relationship between the Leonardini's and the Wrights. The Wrights obviously had advance details about the wedding, and the decision by Mr. Leonardini and/or others on the Wright/Leonardini property to choose that particular time to go "hunting" immediately adjacent our property for the first time since we moved here is highly suspicious. We are determined to pursue any and all legal uses of our property; to do so in a professional and considerate manner, and refuse to let such false accusations, coercion, threatening acts and intimidation by neighborhood bullies deter us. I fully expect that once our business is allowed to transpire the ranchers will come to understand that the impact is.minimal, and that we are committed to conform to any and all operating limitations enacted by the Zoning Administrator. -Again and despite the level of open hostility displayed, we are keeping the lines of communication open with the intent that we will eventually establish a constructive dialog with our ranching neighbors. Sincerely, ='� / J � \7 Ute' i Bruce Springer To: Ed Diaz, REHS Contra Costa Health Services 925-646-5225 x209 May 19, 2005 From: Dale Ann Springer. 1090 Victorine Rd. Livermore, CA 94551 925-443-22511 925-443-2256 . Topic:. Negative Declaration Proposal Project Number: LP42118 Assessor's Parcel Number 006-180-019 Dear Mr. Diaz, Please appreciate that prior to our purchase of the above parcel we conducted extensive investigation of this and surrounding land to ascertain the likelihood of sufficient water, and the impact of such wells on our neighbors. We contracted with a respected and experienced hydrogeologic firm as apart of that effort Enclosed is a copy of the "Geological and Geophysical Survey"that you request in your letter of May 13a'. We had several meetings with Mr. Jeremy Wire,the consulting hydrogeologist, who gave us the following insight in addition to the specifics included in his report. He explained that the strata underlying our immediate area is an uplift creating vertically oriented strata which runs essentially east-west, that eliminates the possibility of a wide horizontal aquifers such as exist under the central Livermore Valley. He also speculated that the nearby Los Vasqueros Reservoir might augment the local aquifer's water supply. He reported that aquifers m the mediate area were likely to be localized,the bulk of the reservoir extending primarily east-west, and typically located(from a surface access perspective)M.an area rarely larger than a north-south 25' radius, and could be as small as a few feet He stated that since there was no indication of water at or near our north property line(which borders.Mrs-Margaret Leonardni,the principal antagonist on this issue), it was highly unlikely that her aquifer extended to our mutual property line. He emphasized that his measurement results and the sloped east-west strata made the possibility of our parcel directly sharing a common aquifer with the Leonardim well or any other existing north-south well very.remote. Due to a lousy installation by our first well contractor that included a faulty gravel pact: (it was attempted two days after the casing was installed and after the bore hole sides had collapsed new the surface)and poor PSP phnnbmg(the PVC joint just below the well cap was glued and failed,and no casing cap was installed on the bottom of the casing)the pump and 450 feet of pipe plummeted to the well base creating a hydraulic ram effect with mud sealing virtually all of the casing flutes. The pump was recovered after an extensive effort and a new one installed. However,due to the clogged flutes the well production was reduced dramatically. Well experts stated that resuscitation efforts would likely be as expensive as installing a new well, so a second well was successfully developed by a competent contractor at the other location specified by the hydrogeologist. Mr. Wire stated that further evidence of the discrete localized nature`.of wells in this area can be shown"by water analysis. Pumps drawing from the same aquifer will have similar water chemistry and physical properties. Yet looking at the two wells on our property less than 400' apart the analysis is dramatically:different. And it's the same case comparing the analysis from both our wells with our immediate neighbors to the south and with the Leonardini's parcel to the south east. The facts don't support Mrs. Leonardini's allegation that her well is affected by our presence. It is much more likely that this is just another example of Mrs. Leonardini's long recorded history of making serious false aeons to the County about targeted neighbors as well as other forms of documented harassment aimed at these neighbors. Mrs. Leonardini also sites"so many tanks" as evidence of high water usage that would impact her. As an experienced professional you know that tank storage and limiting the well output rate is the best way to dampen aquifer draw-down that would normally be caused by short term high water use cycles. ,And much of our surface water storage is mandated by the San Ramon Valley Fire District. These tanks were filled several gears ago as static 10,000 gallons of hydrant storage with the majority of the water coming from an.on-site construction tank that had been filled by a contract water truck. Our water system utilizes a sophisticated aquifer level assurance method designed to guarantee that the well will always carry no less than a 90 foot water head over the pump. Unlike the typical controls employed by our neighbors that don't shut the pump down until the well virtually runs dry(the pump water head is zero), our intelligent,system insures that the aquifer level is well mated and des nominally. `Phis also. minimizes the impact that our aquifer has on any adjacent connected aquifers and represents the best possible well water management practice. - As for our water usage_olives are drought resistant trees that were selected as much for their low water requirements as for the crop. Since our initial planting two years ago we have utilized.the US Department of Agriculture Extension Services(UC Davis) recommendations for olive tree water consumption which,if compared to the USDA statistical annual water consumption for cattle,is equal to oniv five head of musing cows. That is only a drop in the bucket compared to the number livestock being raised by the L=nardim's and her neighbors,the Wright's. Mrs. Leonardini has repeatedly demonstrated her willingness to fabricate any statement tailored to..create hardship for us. That with our well's remote location,the insulating geographic strata,no evidence of an interconnecting aquifer, our sophisticated well management system and meager water use we could possibly cause an.y significant impart on Mrs. Leonardini's water source defies logic. We have always worked hard to serve as responsible citizens of our community. We have a long documented history of extraordinary personal efforts to advance our neighborhood. But in our new community the unfortunate fact is that circumstances created one-sided ill feelings by one influential neighbor and that has manifested itself in a personal all-out attack on us by her,her family and her close neighbor's family_ However, we are committed to maintaining a cordial and professional demeanor and hope that such ill-will can be overcome. We appreciate your evaluating the facts in the same professional light. 925 449 5216 05 =B5 PM REINS TEIN. FARMS June 14, 2005 Mr. Michael Henn Community Development Contra Costa County 651 Pine Street Martinez, CA 94553 (925) 335-1204 RE: Application Number LP042118 Dear Mr. Henn: I am writing to support Bruce and Dale Ann Springer's application to establish a winery on their property at 1090 Victorine Road. I own property adjacent to the Springer's property on Highland Road and 1.am also engaged in agricultural endeavors. My family and I have raised cattle, horses and dry land crops such as hay,wheat and oats on this land since the early 1900's. These traditional agricultural pursuits are becoming increasingly difficult to sustain in the face of competition from large-scale corporate agriculture, which can undercut our prices. In order to maintain any viable agricultural activity in the Tassajara Valley, we must consider modern, innovative"niche" concepts such as equestrian activities, organic beef, wine grapes and olives as alternatives to the more traditional crops. There is a ready market for such concepts in the greater Bay Area, as evidenced by the demand for horse boarding facilities and the success of specialty farmer's markets like the one established at the Ferry Building in San Francisco. With respect to the traffic issue, we do not believe that a winery would add significantly to the traffic in the area because the main impact would.be on the weekends when traff c is minimal here. Our problem with traffic on Highland Road occurs during the morning and evening commute and is caused by people who use the road as a short cut to avoid the 1-580/680 corridor. In summary, Bruce and Dale's plan.is progressive and is what the area needs to stem the encroaching residential development. I support their plan wholeheartedly. �4ly yours, Reinstein 8201 Highland Road Livermore, CA 94551 yj5 44y �11b r ' c''` ICtin51 t7- June June 18, 2005 Mr. Michael Henn Community Development Contra Costa County 651 Pine Street 4`h Floor,North Wing Martinez, CA 94553 RE: Application Number LP042118 Dear Mr, Henn: We originally owned all the property on the west side of Victorine Road and we predate the arrival of the Leonardinis and the Wrights, whose endeavors over the years we have wholeheartedly accepted and supported This includes building homes for their children and support facilities for their respective businesses. We've never objected to their use of Victorine Road for access to their property and businesses. We sold a parcel of property on Victorine Road to Bruce and Dale Ann Springer in 2001 and we support their recent application to establish a low-impact winery on their property. We know Bruce and Dale personally and know that they were victims of the high-tech downfall, and we support their efforts to re-establish a viable business that is commensurate with the legal permitted uses of the property and is agriculturally based. We think that this business will give other residents of the area an opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of the Tassajara Valley and North Livermore area, as we have done for generations, Let's take our hats off to them and extend them a helping hand to get their business going. We should applaud them for their ingenuity, not place obstacles in,their way. Give them a big yes and you will see a fantastic, successful business that will be a credit to you and to Contra Costa County. Sincerely, Art and Diane Reinstein 8201 Highland Road Livermore, Ca 9455 (925) 444-5216 a 1 L u U J 1 u U f C L I UVC O I I U L G 1 C J L J T T J L L J U I U Mr. Michael Henn Community Development Contra Costa County 651 Pine Street 4`h Floor,North Wing Martinez, CA 94553 925-335-1204 Tune 6, 2005 Re: Application Number LP042118 Dear Mr. Henn: It has come to my attention that my neighbors, Bruce and Dale Ann Springer have applied to establish a winery on their property at 1090 Victorine Road. I support their plan and believe it will be an asset to the neighborhood while imposing minimal impact. Sincerely, / 0 0 Jun 20 05 10: 05a Bruce and Dale 925-443-2256 p . 4 Mr. Michael Henn Community Development Contra Costa County . 651 Pine Street 4"' Floor,North Win` Martinez, CA 94553 925-335-1204 June 6, 2005 Re: Application Number LP042118 Dear Mr. Henn: It has come to my attention that my neighbors, Bruce and Dale Ann Springer have applied to establish a winery on their property at 1090 Victorine Road. I support their plan and believe it will be an asset to the neighborhood while imposing minimal impact. Sincerely, Larry Robinson 1080 Victorine Road Livermore, CA 945.51 Mr. Michael Henn Community Development Contra Costa County 651 Pine Street 4"' Floor,North Wing Martinez, CA 94553 925-335-1204 June 6, 2005 Re: Application Number LP042118 Dear Mr. Henn: It has come to my attention that my neighbors, Bruce and Dale Ann Springer have applied to establish a winery on their property at 1090 Victorine Road. I support their plan and believe it will be an asset to the neighborhood while imposing minimal impact. Sincerely, Michael Murray 11700 Morgan Territory Road Livermore, CA 94551 Apr 12 UG 10: 43a DALE GIESSMAN 8255 16I8Ei4 P• � EeCd der Frau Vineyards ""Field ofDrea s" 1015 Sunnys Way Brentwood, GA 94513 (925) 550-6290 April 10, 2006 San Ramon Valley Piann g Commission Subject: Springer, B ce and Dale Application f r Winery&Tasting Ro m Dear Chair of the San R mon Valley Planning ommission and Contra Costa County Board of Supervis rs: As owner of a Contra Co to County vineyard an secretary of the Contra Costa County Win egrape and 01 ve Growers Assoc., I a supporting the application for a winery and tasting room ubmitted by Bruce and Dale Springer. As a local grower the furt er development of win ries and tasting rooms in this county supports the agric Itural industry of this c unty. Wineries will likely buy local products, most impo aptly for me wine grapes. Tasting rooms and hosting of events, support the win ry, increasing public aareness and adding financial support to make survival o a small winery more lik ly. Please approve the Sprin ers' application for a finery with a tasting room and event center use permit. `';n lely, ale Giessman N 04/10/2006 11:35 FAX 925 841 -631 ARTHUR J. GALLAGHER 9002/002 Hannah,Nicole Vineyards, Inc. Apri1.10, 2006 San Ramon Valley Planning Commission Subject: Springer, Bruce and Dale Application for Winery & Tasting Room Dear Chair of the San Ramon Valley Planning Commission and Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors: I am the owner of Hannah Nicole Vineyards in Brentwood, and I support Bruce and Dale Springer's application for a winery with a tasting room and special events use permit in the Tassajara Valley. Hannah Nicole Vineyards will soon be applying for a similar use permit with Contra Costa-County. It is imperative that the County support the commitment made to local agriculture. While many homeowners and ranchowners in the area may initially object to a winery, tasting room and event center, it is the County's role to act as the middleman and assist in developing the project in a manner that is beneficial to all parties. As a winery owner, I believe that having more wineries in Contra Costa County is beneficial to other wineries in the County, and "brands" Contra Costa as a tourist- attracting wine region as well. The worst thing that could happen to the Contra Costa wine industry is for the County to only have a few wineries. Under those circumstances, people may never discover both the wine and the beauty the County has to offer. Holding special events allows people to discover the wine, and in turn, discover Contra Costa County's growing wine region. From a business perspective, a new winery without a tasting room and the ability to hold special events will face difficulty surviving. Without a tasting room and event center for people to first taste the wine, small wineries face great difficulty in attracting customers. Finally, a successful winery will generate retail sales, restaurant visits, hotel revenues, and generally promote other businesses in the County as well. Please approve the Springers' application for a winery with a tasting room and event center use permit. Sincerely, 641� Neil Cohn President P.O. Box 309 ♦ Brentwood, CA 94513 ♦ (925)513-0769 ♦ FACSIMILE: (925) 513-6694 Website—www.hannahnicolevineyards.com E-mail: neil cDhannahnicolevinevards.com FROM LIVERMORE VALLEY (MON>APR 10 2006 1'1:36/ST. 11:31iNa.7600000294 P 1 LIVCRM9RC VALLCY WINt C9UnzRY° April 3,2006 Contra Costa County Zoning Administrator Community Development REGARDING: Land Use Permit,#LP042118, Applicants Bruce&Dale Springer Dear Board and Staff: The Board of Directors of the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association has considered the Application by Bruce&Dale Springer for a Land Use Permit to allow operation of a winery,olive mill,retail tasting room and limited special events at 1090 Victorine Road,in North Livermore, California. The Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association supports of the Springer's application,as this land area will soon be included in the existing American Viticultural Area.(AVA)of Livermore Valley. This AVA is currently home to 35 wineries ranging from very small,new businesses,to fifth-generation led,large.case volume producers. This area is in fact a successful and growing wine region welcoming new wineries and families investing in our agricultural community. We understand the Springer project to be consistent with our vision for this Livermore Valley wine region and support the application in its entirety,including special events activities. The Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association has a Membership of 35 wineries in the area, and 70 grape growers. The majority are small business ventures. Wineries in this area depend on retail traffic and special event activities that generate revenue that is vital to the success of the overall business. The full spectrum of activities listed in this application are necessary for these small business to thrive and succeed. LIVERMORE VALLEY WINEGROWERS ASSOCIATION 3585 Greenville Road, Suite 4 Livermore, CA 94550 (925)447-WINE (9463) www.livermorewine.com FROM Li VERMORE VALLEV CMON>APR 10 2006 11:30/ST. 11:31/No.7600000294 P LlVtftm9Rt V,Lry Wint c9UnTRY' Page Two Springer Application The Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association encourages all new and existing wineries to actively engage in good neighbor communications and practices, allowing guests to visit and enjoy our wine country in concert with existing residents and businesses in Livermore Valley Wine Country. We also encourage all of our area wineries to assure that ample parking,premium safety procedures and top- notch guest amenities are available on every winery property to assure the highest quality guest experience for winery visitors to our region. Best regards, Carolyn WUnte President Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association LIVERMORE VALLEY WINEGROWERS ASSOCIATION 3585 Greenville Road, Suite 4 Livermore, CA 94550 (925) 447-WINE (9463) www.livermorewine.com Contra Costa Wine Grape and Olive Growers Association 3130 "D" Balfour Road #296 Brentwood, California 94513 Board of Directors Tom Powers, Chairman David Navarrette, Treasurer Aaron Meadows Larry Enos Dale Giessman Don Della Nina Ed Rodriguez April 17, 2006 SAN RAMON VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION Dear Chairperson: As Chairman of the Wine Growers Association of the County I would like to ask you to support the application of Bruce and Dale Springer for their winery and tasting room. As a grower and recent recipient of a winery permit in the Alhambra Valley area (between Martinez, Lafayette, Odnda and Pinole) of Contra Costa County, I know that this type of activity is one of the only ways farmers can continue to apply their trade. In addition, a winery creates little impact on'the surrounding community., My neighbors have found that such a facility brings a positive attraction to the area as opposed to bringing negative impacts. The fears of traffic and other impacts from visitors have turned out to be uneventful. If Contra Costa County wants to preserve open space adjacent to suburban communities, farming and some farm related commercial enterprises is one cost effective way to do it from a public expense prospective. Please support your county farm enterprises. ARL-spe ullyRespe ully submitted, om Powers Chairman LETTERS IN OPPOSITION Hoge Reply to: ■ Pleasanton Fenton ■ San Jose 6155 Stoneridge Drive,Suite 200 Jones & 60 South Market Street.Suite 1400 Pleasanton,California 94588-3283 Appel Inc. San Jose,California 95113-2396 Telephone:925.224.7780 Attorneys at Law Telephone:408.287.9501 Facsimile:925.224.7782 San Jose ■ Pleasanton Facsimile:408.287.2583 Gabriel S.Chao 925.224.7780 gsc@hogefenton.corn April 19, 2006 San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission County Administration Building 651 Pine Street, 4th Floor, North Wing .Martinez, CA 94553-0095 Re: Approvals for Winery (County File No. LP042118) Dear Members of the Commission: Hoge, Fenton, Jones & Appel represents the interests of Bruce and Dale Springer in the matter of their application (County File Number LP042118) to open a winery and olive mill facilities with a tasting room and events center located at 1090 Victorine Road ("Property"). We submit the following comments in support of the Springers' appeal. Land Zoning The General Plan land use designation for the Property is Agricultural Land, and the zoning designation is A-80. The Springer project is compatible with both the General Plan designation and the A-80 regulations. Wineries exist on agricultural lands, and many hold special events. Holding a special event is the primary means by which a winery attracts potential new consumers to taste its wine and view the beauty of the vineyard and surrounding region.I If the County determines that special events are not consistent with agricultural zoning, then no Contra Costa winery would be allowed to hold special events. Because the wine industry is growing in Contra Costa County and offers the potential to enhance the County's economy and cultural reputation, the County should allow new wineries to hold the special events that will help the wineries succeed and attract customers. In light of the concerns raised by the opponents to the Springers' application, the Springers are agreeable to the following modifications as part of the conditions to a use permit: • Make any necessary changes to their Property required by the County to accommodate parking demands. While not every winery needs to hold special events to survive, those that do not are typically surrounded by a number of other wineries, which help create a synergy for people to visit the area to taste wine. ,,FIFJAFILE`,N Drive\76333\Let\191971.x.loc San Ramon Valley Regi al Planning Commission v April 19, 2006 Page 2 • Limit the number of guests and attendees at special events to only 175 people to ease the traffic and parking concerns.` Limit the number of special events to 20 or fewer in a year,.as originally recommended.by County staff. 0 End any Saturday events by 10:00 p.m., and end Sunday events by 8:00 p.m. • Provide neighbors with at least one weeks' notice prior to any special event. Alternatively, the County can approve the Springers' original application for a tasting room and events center for a provisional period of five years, and revisit the issue at the end of the provisional period to analyze the actual impact of a. winery with a tasting room and events center. Many wineries throughout California hold special events.3 Wineries are beneficial to the County because they do not disturb the agricultural integrity of the specific area, while providing the winery owners the ability to make a living from an agricultural use for a productive and balanced environment. Encouraging more wineries to open in Contra Costa County will ultimately help to protect the County's fertile soils, rangelands, open space and biological resources. Wineries are an integral part of a viable agricultural economy in.Contra Costa County. Special Events Would Not Create A Nuisance. A winery with special events would not be detrimental to the health, safety, and general welfare of the County. Further, a winery with special events would not create a nuisance or enforcement problem.4 The Springers' winery would not receive any special treatment, and would be subject to the same nuisance laws as any other County resident. Strict guidelines exist in the County to regulate any potential nuisance, and special events at the Property would be, subject to such ordinances. With regard to traffic, while special events would increase the number of cars going to the Property, the increased traffic would primarily occur during nonpeak periods when special events are being held, namely weekends. The Springers have already suggested installing, stop signs at the Victorine/Highland T-intersection to address traffic safety concerns. Similar traffic concerns have been raised during the review of other proposed wineries in Contra Costa, but those concerns have turned out to be unwarranted. As discussed in Tom Powers' April 17,2006 letter on behalf of the Contra Costa Wine, Grape, and Olive Growers' Association in support of Typically,people attending special events such as weddings arrive with more than one person per vehicle. For example, in Contra Costa County, Cana Winery holds special events of up to 300 people. In the nearby Livermore Valley; Wente Vineyards,Mitchell Katz Vineyards, and Gane Vineyard and Winery all hold special events. 4 The record in this proceeding, including.the Negative Declaration and the various staff reports, takes special events into consideration and includes substantial evidence that special events would not create significant environmental impacts. The opposition has offered no evidence to the contrary other than speculation. \\HFJAFILE\NDrive\7633311xt\191971.3.doc San Ramon Valley Reg. al Planning Commission April 19, 2006 Page 3 the Springers' application, the potential traffic.problems identified by neighbors of his vineyard have not materialized. (Attached hereto as Exhibit A). Accessory Use A tasting room and special events are accessory uses to a winery. As discussed above, many wineries hold special events to attract customers, and nearly all wineries have a tasting room for visitors to try out their wines. People are simply more likely to purchase wines that they have tasted and enjoyed. The County should grant the Springers a use permit for a winery with a tasting room and events center because the economic success of such a winery can help maintain a beneficial agricultural use and open space for years into the future. Environmental Impacts The negative declaration approved by the County evaluates the impacts of the entire project, including the proposed tasting room and special events. The project description in the negative declaration specifically includes a"limited number.of special events such as weddings, receptions, etc." (Environmental Checklist Form of Negative Declaration). Further, County staff has confirmed that the Negative Declaration evaluated the potential impact of the tasting room and special events, as staff initially recommended limiting special events to 20 per year. The staff reports address the impacts of having special events as part of a winery and conclude that the impacts are minor at best. As discussed in this letter, and even further mitigated by the Springers' willingness to adhere to limitations on special events, the application for a winery with special events has very little environmental impact. County staff agreed with this conclusion, taking the Springers' entire application into consideration in preparing the Negative Declaration. Williamson Act Government Code section 51201(e) authorizes the County to determine what is considered a "compatible use." As explained above, a tasting room and special events as proposed are compatible with the agricultural uses authorized under the Williamson Act contract applicable to the Property. The Wrights' argument that special events are not compatible uses lacks support and conflicts with the County's authority to determine compatible uses. The Springers are simply trying to preserve the agricultural integrity of their Property. As evidenced by their willingness to modify their application, the Springers are making every attempt to be reasonable in pursuing such endeavors. For the reasons set forth herein, Mr. and Mrs. Springer respectfully request that the Commission reverse the Zoning Administrator's decision denying the permit to allow the tasting room and the special events. and grant a land use pen-nit subject to the conditions discussed herein. 1\F1FJAFILF1NDrivei763331Let1191971.3.doc San Ramon Valley Reg: it Planning Commission April 19, 2006 Page 4 Very truly yours, HOGE, FENTON,JONES &APPEL, INC. Gabriel S. Chao GSC: gsc cc: Michael Henn— Community Development Department Dale and Bruce Springer " UHFJAFILE\ND6,veA76333\Let\191 Q71:3.Joc Contra Costa Wine Grape and Olive Growers Association 3130 "D" Balfour Road #296 Brentwood, California 94513 Board of Directors Tom Powers, Chairman David Navarrette, Treasurer Aaron Meadows Larry Enos Dale Giessman Don Della Nina Ed Rodriguez April 17, 2006 SAN RAMON VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION Dear Chairperson: As Chairman of the Wine Growers Association of the County I would like to ask you to support the application of Bruce and Dale Springer for their winery and tasting room. As a grower and recent recipient of a winery permit in the Alhambra Valley area (between Martinez, Lafayette, Orinda and Pinole) of Contra Costa County, I know that this type of activity is one of the only ways farmers can continue to apply their trade. In addition, a winery creates little impact on the surrounding community. My neighbors have found that such a facility brings a positive attraction to the area as opposed to bringing negative impacts. The fears of traffic and other impacts from visitors have turned out to be uneventful. If Contra Costa County wants to preserve open space adjacent to suburban communities, farming and some farm related commercial enterprises is one cost effective way to do it from a public expense prospective. Please support your county farm enterprises. Lsppectfully submitted, it Tom Powers 'chairman LP042118-Letters/submittals in opposition to the application/appeal 1. M/M Wright letter 5/1/05 2. Vera Reinstein letter 5/11/05 3. Linda Leonardini letter 5/2/05 4. Russell and Eliosa Leonardini letter 5/8/05. 5. Margaret Leonardini letter 5/3/05 6. Christopher Wright letter, 5/3/05 7. Judith Anne Wright letter 6/26/05 8. William Mazzocco letter 6/23/05 9. Evelyn Hilbert letter 6/19/05 10. M/M Allen letter 6/17/05 11. M/M Montes letter 6/15/05 12. Russell and Eliosa Leonardini letter undated 13. Jeffrey Hicks letter 6/19/05 14. Stacy Diaz letter 6/17/05 15. Linda Leonardini letter 6/17/05 16. Uncertain sender 6/20/05 17. Morrison Foerster, Alicia Guerra letter 9/14/05 18. M/M Wright letter 11/8/05 19. John Bowles letter 6/12/06 ED & JUDY WREGHT -4 PH 2: Do Iff r 05 MAY 2000 Victorine Rd. Liv3rmore, CA 94550 Michael Henn Community Development Department Contra Costa County 6:51 Pine Street, North Wing, 4th Floor Martinez, CA 94553 May 1, 2005 RE County File #LPO42117 Bruce and Dale Springer Dear Mr. Henn: We have owned the property at the end of Victorine Rd. (APN #'s 006-150-018-7, 006-150-015-3 and 006-150-016-1) since 1974, breeding horses and running cattle. This area east of Tassajara Rd. is virtually the last of the large acreage ranches. We owned our property before the county adopted the 80 acre minimum now required for a single family residence in this area. The property that Mr. and Mrs. Springer purchased from Arthur Reinstein had been part of a large acreage ranch comprised of many individually deeded parcels back in the early 1900's. These small parcels were grandfathered into the 80 acre minimum. Mr. Reinstein was able to sell two of these parcels several years ago before the neighboring ranchers realized that he was actually using this loop hole to subdivide. We pied our case at several county meetings in June of 2002 and after an on site investigation by the Zoning Administrator, it was concluded that this very rural area was stressed and would not support more growth. The road is narrow and not well maintained, the properties are serviced by septic systems and the water systems are privately maintained. It was decided at that time that Victorine Rd. did not lend itself to more growth or traffic. It was also noted that Highland Rd., the arterial road, was already heavily traveled with morning and evening cut-through traffic and made ingress and egress for Victorine Rd. hazardous. In the past year, we know of 3 people that have been killed on Highland Rd. and we suspect there are more we don't know about. One of these accidents is in litigation with the county at this time. It is for the above mentioned reasons that we are questioning the advisability of this proposed project. We have no problem with a home winery for private consumption. We also understand that the high cost of living makes people want to make their assets profitable, but, we feel that a tasting room, retail sales and an event center are incongruous with the surroundings. First of all, this whole area is zoned agricultural and we have tried .very hard to keep it that way. Once retail sales are allowed, that will set a precedent for other cottage industry requests. There will be increased traffic and more wear and tear to already substandard roads. Add to this the tasting room and you have drivers navigating these windy country roads with alcohol in their system. (The deaths of the Pack children on Tassajara Rd. is only a few miles from here and Tassajara Rd. is much straighter and far better surfaced.) All that we have mentioned previously also applies to an event center. All of these properties are on septic systems and are serviced by wells. The area is very rural, there are cattle, sheep and llamas grazing along side much of this mile long road which dead-ends at our gate. The proximity of this property causes us another concern as we feel planned events would probably disturb our,peace and tranquility as well as the rest of the residents on the road. We have had numerous occasions since the Springers bought their property that people have come to our property looking for them. We have been happy to redirect these lost folks, but, we aren't going to be happy to do it on a daily'basis. Our last concern involves safety. We have virtually no law enforcement in this area. Partly because we are so far from the source and also because.we haven't had any crime. -We would like to keep it that way. During the summer months, we have a great propensity for fire as we are surrounded by hundreds of acres of grazing land. We all practice defensive fire protection, but, it's impossible to protect against an errant smoker. in closing, we are not opposed,to the winery. As there is not a grape vine on that property, one would assume that the grapes and or the crush would be delivered. Again the traffic concerns us. As for the rest of this proposed project, it is being proposed in the wrong area. Charming though it might be, the property is too small and would definitely infringe on the rights of the neighbors and would put a terrible strain on the fragile infrastructure we have here on Victorine Rd. We would liked to be advised as to the exact date and time that this application will be considered by the County Zoning Administrator as we plan to attend this hearing and would like to reserve the right to speak before the assembled. Very truly yours, Edwin E. Wright Judith Anne Wright 72. NMI — s t i ,- a p 4:h L f.t.H L s t 1 a n{..d t'F'1`^r h, ou s l j 0 i t, [h:,. {./�3{J�': i� ,t��.1.,�f 1 t%Y F.l CL I��.: L l i 1 i i nn e 7 1 l`,. T._.-. pro; - .. ,,_i .�45.,,._, i..-, - .1 fes. pacu and ..,i ldtij_ the .L... _iam 11; , .._..., .. .. ..a...- _ r ,.. i ..._......_ .. ....,. - ., i rti. ..., a., and - .., ....a ..a. ia.- . w ,....... 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Highland ighi _ d Road. ri!i� =EJLthas-been C'-JH'i %'or r _vc is-" _-_iSla iie l-i r - C_tJtL _'�_o; lines !'i='•(�t ECilz% till+_ speediii_'_lie.- iii `__iil}it�, i%}{:t:'StJiiJ f!41 t! iil�Jt.iil�.'-JGh`-..Y -t i .1. - ! i i _i s Jimj !_ii dVC3.iii/il_. i i�i+�. i Jt.l_'„iii is that GiLpCEE e t till.' +.-Eli t..i CL-in' i-t.a-I lti it l iin!_-tr.J __i35�1 v"! _h i ii ti__..- irr'y _!4�-zTti+"ii Lz _ '_'1 JS•'_,t ell�J lam. e� it tliat theotherresidents in this ate,ca.ovili be giver J semission to reduce their iNacreage_ t 3e_iLc__ �ii` njiiitl -11-or __iOUl-QJ: : tS: ) V .Iliat i J _ -o_ for One ShO ii LIC Jall C0111.:11 :,%r+l , _?%r!t_ ., tl. __-__�liiC __ `-;S Pi_ts;ai i"' .r:_--_t_, to the concerns ills :stn-..-i' n this letter. - Iii=_,moi tom., t� Vera '` illsleirl Michael Henn Community Development Dept. Contra Costa County 651 Pine St., North Wing, 0' floor Martinez,-Ca. 94553 Re: Bruce and.Dale Springer County file 9LP042118 Dear Michael Henn: May 2, 2005 I'd like to comment on the request by Bruce and Dale Springer to operate a winery at 1090 Victorine Rd., Livermore, County file 9 LP042118. Before a permit is issued, I would like you to consider the following issues that I am concerned with. Perhaps, a study is in order before the permit is issued. I feel that it will impact the environment as far as the water table being affected by the watering of the vines, and the use of water for the wine, as well as, the use of water for bathrooms. This area relies on wells, and there isn't that much water.in the area for a winery to exist. This is land that is used for cattle and ranching. Where will all of this water come from — the neighbors' wells that would mean their wells would dry up? It would also create more traffic than there already is on Victorine Rd., and especially on Highland Rd. I'm sure that you are aware of all of the auto accidents that have occurred on Highland Rd. in the last few years, as people use this road to avoid the traffic on the freeways. Victorine Rd. is a very narrow road. There was a hearing with Contra Costa County in regards to the Reinstems wanting to subdivide the property on Victorine and Highland Rd. in 2002. It was mentioned at that time that the road was too narrow to be conducive to more traffic from more homes. The county would need to widen the road or there will more than likely be a head on accident on Victorine Rd. If the Springers are planning on trucking in the grape juice in, instead of planting grapes, that would mean more wear on the dilapidated roads that we already have. The Springers are also requesting to have "limited special events" which will bring more noise to the already serene area. As you know, there are hills in the area, which will cause the noise to travel. There are cattle in the surrounding property. As you low, when people are drinking they tend to become loud and-boisterous. They also don't have any regards for other - people's property, and feel that they can trespass and hike wherever they please. This could create many problems with the surrounding cattle ranchers. It will also create more garbage_ being thrown out on the side of the roads than there already has been. Please consider these issues that Fin concerned with before a permit.is issued. ,Thank you. 7Cv Lin& Leonardini Michael Henn 5/08/05 Community Development Depart ii r is 25 Contra Costa County Dear Sirs: This is in concern to the proposed land use permit by Bruce and Dale Springer , applicants and owners / county file # LP042118 , to operate a winery and retail sales . Considering the Springers are in the Williamson Act a proposed Vineyard would be unacceptable. But the fact is that no vineyard has yet been planted. 'Where are no facilities for the production of wine, and the fact is it takes 3 to 5 years for grapes to mature for production. This is basically the old I putting the cart before the horse'. A retail sales store for wine is just that, a retail sales store in a agricultural preserve landscape of cattle and sheep. 1 do believe that all our retail stores are located in town. With the idea of special events happenings, Victorine Road is a single lane road that as it is now one vehicle has to slow down and pull over to accommodate a second vehicle safely. The presented clanger of more traffic on this road is unacceptable and dangerous to all residents living on this road. We are against any more traffic on our road and the opening of any retail stores in the area. Sincerely Yours Mussell and Eloisa Leonardini ���j Ute; �• ��-�-•-9s��z Michael Henn Community Development Department05 gni' _4 PM 2; 00 Contra Costa County 651 Pine Street, North Wing, 4th Floor Martinez, CA 94553 May 3, 2005 RE: County File 4LP042117 Bruce and Dale Springer Dear Mr. Henn: My parents bought the ranch at the end of Victorine Rd. in 1974, when my brother and I were young teens. It was a great way to finish our growing-up years. It was hard work re-establishing a ranch that had been neglected for years, but, we loved every minute of it. Now I am living out here again with my wife and children, occupying the original ranch house that was built in 1906. Our house is the closest to the Springer's property and this proposed project will have the most impact on us. Like my parents, I don't object to the winery; however, I do object to.the idea of retail sales and events. Other than the reasons raised by my parents which I totally concur with, I have a more personal concern and that is that the Springers have not been considerate neighbors in the past. When they purchased the property and prior to building their home, they ran a generator 24 hours a day for weeks on end with total lack of concern for us or our neighbor right next to it. Even after being asked to please shut it off during the evening hours, it continued to run. They weren't residing here at the time and couldn't care less if their generator was keeping people awake at night. They also have some type of exhaust system in their barn used in conjunction with Mrs. Springer's business (see enclosed article)that is very noisy , but, infrequent. For these reasons, I have great doubt and concern that there would be any consideration given to the peace and enjoyment of the neighbors. When the county adopts zoning and use requirements, they should be adhered to until which time the requirements for the entire region are amended. They are of little value if all one needs to do is apply for a variance and a group of individuals, totally unfamiliar with the region, make decisions based entirely on an applicants wishes, an architects rendering or a land use attorney`s view. There are ways to make profitable returns on your land in this area, raising horses, cattle or dry crops to name a few. Retail sales, wedding receptions, christenings, retirement parties are not among them. My family has spent years, along with our neighbors, retaining the rural atmosphere of the area. -Maybe the time has come for us all to think in terms of subdivision and bury the idea that there are still people who appreciate the early California ranching heritage. I surely hope not. Sincerely yours 7t/ rt�Op'i�', er�rni 2002 Victorine Rd. Livermore. CA rn vrJ' � tiroZ' .0. 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Tr: C F-•D °f U a, _ N �•+cd ..b O C h N v v i,h p v v in a 0 C ami a'in v 4^..rn _ ro ti .q m L!'N O^ rn $E°P �I3 p g �u N.cV cga�N v'ai it`��F.m 3 ai p"O v'N'v q''' O 'D.�v^^ >,c�9 O yn'�s4 IL) � 0...3.'x::64'0= �.� 7N'O_"� O v �p �•O a?y i m E^�v v.=..L.C.cn� 0.. v. p'.op?O L.p'O p v v cu E ..c �..JF• C m..� v 4 C 4.v O CL'-• L v- �■;`�w G.3 U.'r'i .0 F G C v ai ai O C 3 C o � Gtin gc.oc vLcm� � o �o .Ec .'^. C ?; p.v OC's C,.>�`p3 y,u d" C ca ct 0 a EC -0 cabn� v qb c �'o c ap bC4p y� nN_ mca u ❑ 'n v ^ v o E" e v ,� v_U a'N O p.=. ^�, 5 0'•N m e u E..q. v�..�,..v rn U) .. ..� N.v� °' E L.o o.`5A .,o v vt� o a o-nnnn ° = �a L� 4u Sin v 4L�.cC 3 u v 4.G c_^ _ ^ n.�a= 3 Ev z 7:, O V�.'O.O._... O. N ''� U, � v-O v..p N c9�L.�: O cd��0� O O. Oco U)= O O 7Y �,o U cc)) K CZ > q 4G 4v,a N OY:L p N 0 v O �3 m . .IzI.�L~., O'D.y:a.:7A �_ D' ca,...%.�.�.4.G UCO..`pO a'•�.b y.� 3.- Y .GK a."@.=m N o �'v = v�'i e�` �i O,M`o ctiLc s v O'T, .� 4�.y OL` K.N N LTJ 0.: } -'.9� W,p c: v.>y;'�� b0o c^*y�C O -may O tAC T U ''> ��.v p p,0`� U , U yL- C.^ Z •p.4 u>v .. yr �c� �, vi ••N O.v N v ^�S v) CN 3 cn C ui p@•D[n y p O p . Michael Henn Community Development Department _ Contra Costa County 651 Pine Street,North Wing, 4h Floor Martinez, CA. 94553 June 26, 2005 RE: County File #LP042117 Bruce and Dale Springer Dear Mr. Henn: I thought you and the County Zoning Administrator would be interested in the enclosed material as it appears that Mr. and Mrs. Springer are already operating their Event Center prior to any resolution on their Land Use Permit. This planned wedding and reception doesn't appear that it will be finished by the 5:00 R.M. to 6:OOP.M. noise abatement Mr. Springer indicated at the hearing on June 20, 2004. You will also note on the enclosed material that Mrs. Springer hosted her Las Lomas High School reunion at the planned event center on June 4, 2005. There were approximately 40 cars at the event and the music was amplified late into the evening. The reunion appeared to be held both inside and outside. I would appreciate it if you would share this information with the Zoning Administrator that heard' the testimony on the above numbered application for a Land Use Permit on June 20, 2005. Very truly yours, Judith Anne Wright 2000 Victorine Rd. Livermore, CA. 94551 Enclosurers wedding_details Page l of 2 About the Ceremony: Date:July 3, 2005 Location: The Victorine Estate Address: 1090 Victorine Road Livermore, CA 94551 United States (510) 919-7529 The wedding will start approximately at sunset. Livermore is typically hot and dry in the summer and will be comfortably warm for the evening. However, the San Francisco Bay Area can get foggy at night and we suggest bringing a light wrap or jacket in case the evening gets cooler. The wedding will be outdoors.The reception will be within walking distance and take place both indoors and outdoors. Carpool is highly encouraged and designated drivers will be greatly appreciated. The wedding attire for guests is fun and festive! Wear cocktail attire... and bring your dancing shoes! About the Reception: ate:July 3, 2005 <ddress: ocation: Reception immediately following The Victorine Estate After a heartfelt twilight wedding ceremony, guests will be treated to an evening of fun and delicious decadence. The romantic drinks, dessert and dancing,re;;;. tion will immediately follow inside the Estate. Rachel an Victor would e everyone who is making the journey to their wedding to know how appreciative they are. This wedding is a landmark event in both of their lives, and to share this day with the ones they love means the world to them. Restaurants We've narrowed down a list of restaurants near the Wedding Site where guests will be able to choose from a variety of cuisines for dinner before the wedding. Click below to go to our Restaurant information page. Livermore Restaurant Listing http://tancredi.net/wedding%20details.htm 6/26/2005 7 wedding_details Page 2 of 2 Special Event: Date:July 1, 2005, 10:OOPM Location: Castle Rock Pub Address: 1848 Portola Avenue Livermore, CA 94551 United States (925) 456-7100 • J Rachel and Victor will be at the pub on Friday night. If you are in town early, stop by and say hi, we will be there until 11:30pm. This page was last updated on June 07,2005 23:29. http://tancredi.net/weddmg%20details.htm 6/26/2005 Yahoo! Search Results for victorine road livermore Pagel of? Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail Welcome, Guest [Sin In Search Home Help Web Images Video Directory Local News Shopp S E.A RC K victorine road livermore M.y_.W_eb 3E:T�.. Subscriptions (New) Shortcuts Advanced. Search Preferences Search Results Results 1. - 10 of about 46 for victorine road iivermore - 0.18 sec. 1. wedding_details E�- About the Ceremony: Date: July 3, 2005. Location: The Victorine Estate. Address: 109( 94551 tancredi.net/weddinc details.htm - 12k - Cached - Miiore from this site - Save - Block 2. Olive Oil in Livermore - eLivermore.com Et Olive Oil in the Livermore Valley. Contents. of this. Section. Wood carvings from Bethle photos. Livermore is known for wine, and is beginning to be known for Olive Oil. ... 240, Eckert Winery tasting room, across from Ravenswood. ... Winn Olive Oil. 1090 Victorine Bruce.Sprinaer(-) irecway.com_Ur ... www.eiiteermore.comioiive oll.htm - 161: - Cached - More from this site - Save - Block 3. Las Lomas High__School - Alumni E ... Dale Morasch Springer, 1090 Victorine Road, Livermore, CA 94551 (925-443-2251: www.acalanes.k"I?-.ca.us/1asiomas/-Iriends/aiumni - 23k - Cached - More from this site - 4. The following individuals or corporation ... E�!i a California corporation), Thomas Nokes, 1810-A Somersville Road. ... 152 S. Livern Victorine Valley Farms, Susan Hermanson, 1080 Victorine Road. ... mercur\/news.com/mid/cctimes/business/I 17 10699.htm?.../printstory.isp - More from thi 5. Cont.aCostaTimes_com_1_05/22/2005.1 The_foliowing individuals or corpor a California corporation), Thomas Nokes, 1810-A Somersville Road. ..`. 152 S. Livern Victorine Valley Farms, Susan Hermanson, 1080 Victorine Road. ... ,Alww.cont,-acostat'mes.com/mid/cctimes/business/1 i 710699.htm - 48h: - Cached - More 6. CONTRA COSTA COUNTY ZONING ADMINISTRATOR Et ....._.-- -- - -- - .- - ..._ - .'.. family residence and is located on Wildhorse Road off of Sellers Avenue in the Knigh Road, west side, north of Highland Road, North Livermore area. ( ... ca.contra-costa.ca.Lis/deoart/cd/current/agendas/06-20-05.ZA..AG=NDA.htm - 95k - Car Biock 7. Di.abio_Cyciists Route Sheets Ei�a Livermore Loop. Dist. Turn. Road ... www.diabic)c\!"lists.com/F,,OLltes/i.ivermoreLOO ).ht,Ti - Iv1Ore Tram this site - Save - Block 8. 40. 3 (PDF) � ... Harris, Jeffrey R & Jill K. 6197 County Road 4. Orland CA 95963 ... Eloise. 1059 Vict www.odfa..cu.goviahTsSS/Ii/odfs/2002 urand BOak/0-2 Pages �v�-���F.�di - 14221 k - View http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=victorine+road+livermore&sm=Yahoo%21+Search&fr... 6/26/200 01 7 J _`ia Is Michael Henn Community Development Department Contra Costa County 651 Pine Street' North Wing, 4a'Floor Martinez, Ca 94553 June 23, 2005 Re: County File#LP042117, Bruce and Dale Springer Dear Mr. Henn: On June 20t1' 2005 you held a hearing regarding the above matter which I was unable to attend. I am a property owner of 107 acres, parcel #006-150-017. My property is in the proximity of the Springer project. Having studied the matter, I discovered that the Springers own a 23 acres parcel and this is within 80A zoning. They are requesting that a winery and event center be permitted on their parcel. My feelings are that an event center would be in discord with the country environment and that all nearby neighbors would suffer for the benefit of the Springers. Considering the fact that they are already beyond the envelope of the 80A zone requirements and the hardship that an event center would cause to surrounding neighbors, I strongly urge you to deny the authorization of an event center. Respectfully, William E. Mazzocco (owner of APN 006-150-017) 21 Chestnut Place Danville, Ca 94506 Copy: Edwin E. Wright 2000 Victorine Rd. Livermore, Ca 94551 G 4 � &P 4 4 IAU, ` fAC7c ` 7 Biu f , G-t3 .�?' •ij�t fru G' �� �!� 4 �� ��-' C�l.' �u� �,1�'1 �Jf 1 , /s.�L`.- VlJ�""��+/'✓ LJ �'�'/CJ��Lat�����.�/�,..� � �./ V l^vl���(.Z.� Y�?{r,K_.. ��<< � � t" 4�,,. I ✓_"V"L'G'L�r��J ✓ Y' - Y `� �4+(,,.��L', VLA V(/n. ��� /""(.'F✓'�t��` ��'���/�,. G�%�✓4'G��_ +/r��� �" �'y:�L�-�/� '��l C;.,L._ L/�' c„(/ R•�G�L�^�G- ��/�1,�Z�^C� t Tim and Chau Allen 2045 Victorine Road Livermore, CA 94551 June 17, 2005 In regards to: Springer Manor Winery Application File # LP042118 Michael Henn Community Development Department Contra Costa County 651 Pine Street, North Wing, 4th Floor Martinez, CA 94553 Dear Mr. Henn, 1.1 Who we are and why we're writing My wife and I are residents here on Victorine road and we've just become aware of the application LP042118. Ed and Judy Wright were nice enough to supply us with the documentation they had on the filling which include copies of letters from our neighbors and the rebuttal arguments. Since our names were mentioned I'd like to take the time to state our family's position formally. 1.2 Refute the understanding that we are in full support In one of the letters to you Mr. Henn, the applicants counted the Allen Family= as one of the family in support of the application. This isn't the case. I don't recall ever discussing this matter with applicants formally or informally. 1 will say that Bruce and Dale, and all our neighbors for that matter, have been very helpful to me in my family on a number of community and agricultural matters and we enjoy and value our relationship with them. However, it takes great liberty with the facts to leverage that good will into supporting application LP042118. 1.3 Statement of our formal position For the record, I'd like briefly state our family's formal position on this application: 1. The winery and olive production business —we're in favor and have no concerns Thermal Roper Ranch 2045 Victorine Road Livermore, CA 94551 -2— lune 18,2005 2. Wine tasting room: a. My wife opposes this and givers her proxy to Judy Wright on this issue b. I do not oppose the tasting room as I believe it's important component of running a successful winery and the . risk individuals taste testing themselves into intoxication is low and manageable 3. Event Center a.Definition - I don't understand what "event center" means. Pac Bell Park is an "event center" as is a picnic area in a local park. Obviously the impact on the local area is vastly different between these two examples. b. Assumption - Until we can get a better understanding of the definition. of term "event center" we must assume that out of commercial interest (generating maximum profit) that the event center must be as big and active as possible. c.Allen Family Position —We're opposed to the event center. i. We believe this will change the rural feeling of the area u. We don't understand what the hours of operation would be for the event center. The concern being that theevents could go on well into the night. in. We believe it will add more traffic to Highland and Victorine roads during the weekends. The concern here is for the jogging and bicycling traffic that is very prevalent on the weekends. Bikes and joggers have been functionally driven off the roads during the week because of the well documented cut through commuter.traffic. It would be a shame to have the same thing happen on the weekends. a.We believe that the possibility of intoxication of patrons goes up exponentially and the ability to manage the consumption will be non-existent. Introducing intoxicated drivers to these old country roads we feel is a sure recipe for tragedy. As an example of "old country road" on Victorine road, right across from Russ's place there is a huge eucalyptus tree who's trunk is literally intruding into the paved portion of the road. There is no shoulder and navigating this tree with oncoming traffic is a challenge in the best of conditions. Thermal Roper Ranch 2045 Victorine Road Livermore, CA 94551 -3— June 18,2005 iv. We believe that there is an additional fire concern 1. Adding to this concern is the fact that there would be no paved parking area if this application was granted .(gravel would be acceptable to us) 2. Although there is a fire station close in distance (4 miles I believe), it's not all that close in time. I would be surprised if emergency fire trucks could average better than 20mph coming down highland. lour miles at 20mph would take .2 hours which is 12 minutes. Add the time it takes to scramble and setup at the scene and I'd estimate that we would be looking at 30 minutes to respond. 3. Given that we are directly down wind of the prevailing wind direction we do not take this lightly Best regards, ;4-- Timothy and Chau Alle Thermal Roper Ranch 2045 Victorine Road Livermore, CA 94551 Michael Henn Community Development Dept. Contra Costa County 651 Pine Street,North Wing 4"' Floor Martinez, CA 94553 RE: County File#LPO42117 Bruce and Dale Springer Dear Mr. Henn: . For the first time, we are very glad that we don't live directly on Victorine Road, but on the cross road, Highland. I couldn't imagine living next to someone who was licensed to have parties every weekend—or even more often. Please come and personally visit this country road. We think you will deny the permit to allow special events at 1090 Victorine. We love the idea that a vineyard is being planted. Even a tasting room with reasonable hours would be fine with us, as long as you take into consideration the traffic concerns and reroute the deadly commuter traffic that we have been experiencing. Remember, we rely on the Contra Costa Sheriffs Department and the Highway Patrol for help, and it takes a long time to get here. Our closest city is quite a few miles away and much of the road is narrow with many curves. In our valley,the noise resonates. We all have parties once in a while. We can hear a party from a very long distance. It wasn't long ago when our neighbor, young men renting a house, had weekly parties. It was horrible—and they live about a half mile away. Please take our, and the concerns of our neighbors, into careful consideration. ncerel y, Dwaine & Janet M es 8200 Highland Road Livermore, CA Contra Costa County 1 I would like to address the `Community Development Department' conceming.the application to operate a winery, a tasting room and special events from Dale and Bruce Springer. First, Victorine road is single lane road of which increased traffic would put the residents in dangerous driving ,`walking and bicycling conditions. There has been an increase of traffic on Highland in recent years ,thereby causing many accidents and fatalities, and in turn has been the reason that all the ranchers now work their cattle on weekends. The moving of cattle by trailers and cattle drives occurs on weekends. This is of serious concern to those of us in the business. Cattle prices are the highest now in over 50 years. Second; Increased traffic would bring more vehicle noise, emissions and pollution to Victorine creek, which is a watershed under th jurisdiction of the `Department of Fish and Game. This is of concern to us that have water wells of which our drinking water comes from. Third, With the loss of infiltration of water into the soil you will have increased water runoff from impervious surfaces, parking lots and rooftops. This increased volume of wate will have an effect on the size,of culvert design and erosion of creek soil that the county will be responsible for upgrading and maintaining and also possibly the need for a vegetative buffer zone, all in compliance with the Department of Fish and Game. Fourth, a paved parking lot will cause a `Heat Island Effect' and of which the planting of native trees for aesthetic value would take many years to develop to relieve this `Hca Island Effect'. This information was collected from `California Highway Patrol', `The Department of Fish and Game`, and the `Natural Resources Conservation Service' of Alameda/Contra Costa Counties. Last of all I would like to bring to the attention of the `Community Development Department' that there are no letters to support this proposed land use permit(county file #LP042118), NOT ONE; from any resident of Victorine Road. I have included a map from the `Community Development Department' showing all the residents of Victorine Road. Sincerely Russell & Eloisa Leonardini LARGE ACRE PARCELS..HIGHLAND ROAD FROM TASSAJARA RD. TO ALAMEDA COUNTY LINE AND MARCIEL ROAD AND VICTORINE ROAD Gorden Rassmussen 368 acres Ronald Ferry 380 acres Jeff Wiedemann 980 acres Vera Reinstein/Cole/Davis 315 acres Arthur Reinstein 340 acres Betty/John Banke 346 acres Henry Bettencourt 250+-acres MARCIEL ROAD Ralph Ranch 1000 acres VICTORINE ROAD Russell Leonardini 300 acres Margaret Leonardini 217 acres Edwin Wright 250 acres William Mazzocco 106 acres Tim Allen 80 acres This is a total of 4.572 acres. Almost all of these sizable ranches are presently grazing cattle and/or sheep at the present time. This should dispel the idea that this area is no longer a viable ranching area and that the majorio, of the area is small ranchettes. 4b hiav e-- VLL- 2 e� (/W "" V Ga C'G.,.�`- -Z �-�.�L .., 1�i3.i�,/��Cr'�-��� G(_1..'t,.(_•21j..�'✓Lr'�.,.� ,•'(.,..E�`,-G' /,c.;, r� �l:' � ' ci G%sX��} 1��t�1... � (�U`� � t/1 c:�.{.rz.�'.� �.c.�'..�C:.� / t�1Z� ��t;`•f„� /�„',_.�.�:1_ C' (C-C c, ,t f T C. JEFFREY HICKS RECEIVED 1075 Victorine Rd. Livermore,CA 94550-9407 ZONING ADMIPj!!' AGENDA ITEM �g To Whom It May Concern, June 17, 2005 Re: Bruce and Dale Springer County File #LP042118 My name is Stacey Diaz. I am not opposing a vineyard or a wine making establishment, however, I strongly oppose any facility or establishment that will involve commercial, retail sales of wine, a tasting room, and special events. I grew up in this agricultural area, and I am adamant that it remains in an agricultural environment (Zoned A-80). In addition, I firmly believe that the development of this project poses potential significant impacts on our agriculture. These impacts include, but are not limited to, heightened traffic and the continued destruction of the one lane road, noise pollution, deteriorated resources (water and others), littering, fires, and even worse — deaths. Within the past year, there has been an increase in vehicular accidents on Victorine's neighboring road - Highland Road. I would like a copy of the decision, any appeals, or subsequent applications sent to me at 2001 Victorine Rd., Livermore, Ca. 94551. Sincerely, Stacey.Diaz RE^EIVEE RECEIVED ZONING ADMINISTRATOR HARING AGENDA ITEM ___- To Whom It May Concern, June 17, 2005 Re: Bruce and Dale Springer County File #LP042118 My name is Linda Leonardini. I reside at 1001 Victorine Rd., Livermore. I will not be able to attend this hearing concerning the operation of a winery at 1090 Victorine Rd., Livermore, as I will be out of town on Monday, June 20, 2005. However, I'd like to voice my opinion about this matter. I am against the issuing of a permit for a winery, which will be for the retail sale of wine including a tasting room, and special events being held. I feel that this is going against what the Williamson Act is all about. This endeavor by the Springers is sounding more like a commercial adventure. In my letter to the county dated May 2, 2005 expressing my concerns, I mentioned that I thought there should be an environmental study performed. I feel that it will have a great impact on the environment in regards to traffic and further destruction of the roads, noise pollution, disregard for the neighboring properties, and more usage of water, which will affect the neighboring wells. I would like a copy of the decision, any appeals, or subsequent applications sent to me at 1001 Victorine Rd., Livermore, Ca. 94551. Sincerely,, Linda Leonardini RECEIVED Dale and Brice Springer L�f C. L Land Use Pen-nit Request z "' '^"� ^"�-- - `F1'NG 1090 Victorine Rd. cr Livennore, CA. 94551 C.C. County My wife and I have several major concerns about the Land Use Pen-nit being requested by Brice and Dale Springer for 1090 Victorine Rd. in southern Contra Costa County. A portion of our ranch, at the end of Victorine Rd., nuns contiguously with the property in question. We challenge portions of A thnu D in the Recommendation section of the staff report. This project will definitely have an impact on and to the environi-nent of Victorine Rd. and the surrounding area. Victorine Rd. is not relatively straight, as indicated in the report. It has rises and curves that obstnict your view of on coming traffic and/or pedestrians. This is still a very viable cattle ranching area and there are frequently cattle and horse vehicles on the road. At times, there are cattle on the road being moved from one pasture to another which is an accepted and lawful procedure. Most of the residents use the road for walking,jogging and biking. The county seems to consider Victorine a single lane road as is evidenced by the lack of a center dividing line to indicated definate ingress and egress lanes. The added traffic on this road will have an adverse effect because, contrary to the report, traffic is heavier on the weekends than during the week. The working residents are running errands and the ranchers are often tending to cattle raising duties as the commuter traffic on Highland Rd. prohibits much of this activity during the week. The other thing that I should mention is that ranching is not a 5 day a week, 8 hour a day job. It is pretty much 24/7, so it can not be assuuned that the road will be free on the weekend for frivilous use. The 30- ,_50 events proposed for the event center, to be scheduled for wann weather months only will increase the vehicle enunisions in the area when the weather is the wannest, the air is the most stagnent and the grass is the driest and prone to fire. Everyone is prudent in their fire prevention practices, but, a carelessly discarded cigarette thrown from a passing car would be catastrophic. If the afore mentioned objections are not si gmfi cant.enough, the monumental concern would be the consumption of alcohol and the navigation of Victorine Rd. and Highland Rd. These roads require undivided driver attention, Linder the best of conditions, even by those of tis who have driven them 30+ years. When you add to this equation individuals without familiarity and who have impaired judgement, you are approving a recipe for disaster. I have statistics from Califorma.Highway Patrol Officer Steven Creel regarding accident reports taken for Highland Road for the years 2004 and thus far in 2005. . Highland Road is approximately 4 to 5 miles long, originates at Camino Tassajara Rd. on the west and dead-ends at Manning Rd. on the east. In 2004 there were 16 investigated accidents on Highland Rd., 2 of which were fatalities and 1 of those fatal accidents occurred on a Saturday. From January thru May 31st of this year, 2005, there have been 9 investigated accidents. We were told that not all accidents are reported as sometimes when only one vehicle is involved, the driver will drive away if the automobile is drivable. These statistics verif l that Highland Road is dangerous and these accidents involve sober coinmuters. On the weekends we loose the commuters, but, we gain hundreds of bicycle riders. Groups of multiple cyclists make for very hazardous driving conditions. The planned event center will make the adjoining properties untenable .for many of us. Contrary to the staff report, sound travels north on Victorine Road and reverberates off the rolling hills on my property behind my home making it appear as though noise from traffic, music, voices sirens, whatever, were in my backyard. Certainly, the option of moving the retail sales and wine tasting operation to the barn at the owners discreation should be removed from consideration. This option would move the object of our objections even. closer to the adjoining properties, abutting the existing grazing land. We do not object to the proposed vineyard or winery. We wouldn't be opposed to wine tasting or sales provided we could be assured the alcohol consumption would or could be closely monitored.. We vehemently oppose the limited event center and everything it proposes. We have filed a protest against the issuance of an alcoholic beverage license for this project and will pursue this avenue until there is a resolution. PLEASE RESPOND TO. MORRISON s FOE RSTER LLI' M O R R I S O N I FO E R S T E R P.O.BOX 8130 NEW YORE, SAN FRANCISCO, I VIALNUF=EK LOS ANGELES,PALO ALTO, SAN DI£'GO c"U4AS Fi I N G TO N,,D.C. — CAL.IFOMA 9-1596-8130 DENVER, NORTHE RN VIRGINhA,­ ' 101YGNACIOVALLEYRO.AD ORANGE COrUNTY, SACRA61ENT0, WA1.NIST-G R` E_FyI;°C EN T U R Y1 G I TI''I• SUITE 450 - ' i t:, , TOKYO, LONDON, BEIJING, WALNUT=EK SHANGHAI,.HON.G.KONG, CALIFORNIA 9459(r4094 SINGAPORE, BRUSSELS TE LE P HONE:925.295.3 300 FACS I1VUL.E:925.946.9912 %Y/WrW MOFO.00M September 14, 2005 Writer's Direct Contact 925/295-3316 AGuerra@mofo.com Michael Henn Community Development Department Contra Costa County 651 Pine Street, North Wing, Fourth Floor Martinez, CA 94553 Re: County File# LP042118 —Appeal of Land Use Permit for Approval of Winery and Olive Oil Mill Facilities Dear Mr. Henn: Morrison & Foerster LLP represents Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Wright ("Mr. and Mrs. Wright"), residents of 2000 Victorine Road, Livermore and the next door neighbors of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Springer, the applicants of the proposed winery and olive oil.mill facilities located at 1090 Victorine Road ("Applicant"). On behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Wright, Morrison & Foerster LLI'herebv submits the following comments regarding the pending appeal of Land Use Permit for Approval of the Proposed Winery and Olive Oil Mill Facilities (County File #LP042118). Background As you ]chow, on November 15, 2004, the Applicant submitted an application requesting approval of a land use permit to operate a winery and olive oil mill, including retail sales of wine and a tasting room ("Project"), within existing structures on her 23-acre property located at 1090 Victorine Road in Livermore, California ("Property"). The winery would operate in an existing barn structure near the northern property line, and the tasting room and retail sales would occur in the existing single family residence. The Applicant also requested permission from Contra Costa County-("County") to host up to fifty special events (e.C'. weddin(,s, fundraisers) per year on the Property. On July 11, 2005, the County Zoning Administrator approved a land use permit for the winery and olive oil mill facilities without the special events ("Use Permit"), subject to certain conditions of approval. While Mr. and Mrs. Wright do not oppose the winery and olive mill facilities, our client has significant concerns about the special events that the Applicant intends to host at the winery. The Applicant's request to host special events 50 times a year during seasons of good we-1 10268 MORRISO NT FOE,RSTER Mr. Michael Henn September 14, 2005 Page Two weather.means that special events will be hosted approximately twice every weekend (or once a week). No limitations would restrict the number of people that might attend. Due to the significant impacts on the surrounding neighborhood, Mr. and Mrs. Wright continue to oppose the Applicant's request for pennission to host special events on the Property. For the reasons set forth below, we request that the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission ("SRVRPC") uphold the Zoning Administrator's decision to prohibit the Applicant from hosting special events on the Property, and deny the Applicant's Appeal. Special Events at the ff,inei)� Would Not be Compatible with the Rural Neighborhood. The Property is located on Victorine Road, which extends north from Highland Road near the Contra Costa County ("County")/Alameda County line, in the middle of an undeveloped ranching community. Victorine Road and the area surrounding the Property are shown in photographs attached as Exhibit A. Rural ranchettes in the 20 acre parcel size ran-e, several large-acrea�(ge ranches and grazing land dominate the landscape. Consistent with the surrounding rural ranchettes and ranching activities, one single-family home and a 2,500 square foot barn are located on the Property with olive trees interspersed between the house and road. Intensive visitor-serving uses, however, are not compatible with the rural nature of the area. The General Plan land use designation for the Property is Agricultural Land (AL). This land use designation allows a density of only 0.2 dwelling units per net acre, as well as a limited amount of conditional uses permitted by land use permit. It is the intent of the General Plan that A<,ricultural Lands be preserved for agricultural use by preventing the establishment of urban and other incompatible land uses. While a winery and olive oil mill would be consistent with the General Plan land use designation, clearly the General Plan does not contemplate intensive commercial and visitor-serving uses and special events on the Property. Further, the Property is zoned A-80 (Exclusive AD,'cultural District).' Although a winery may be permitted,in an A-80 zoning district(subject to a land use permit), the proposed special events are not pennitted uses within an A-80 zoning district. The special events would be considered more urban than rural in nature, and they.would conflict with the surrounding rural residences and ranching activities as further discussed below. For these reasons,.the County should.deny the Appeal. The Proposed Special Events Would Create a Nuisance and Be Detrimental to the Safety and Welfare of the Surrounding Community. Contra Costa County Code ("CCCC") § 26-2.2008 sets forth the required findin�.;s for. approval of a land use permit. Pursuant to CCCC § 26-2.2008(1), the Project must not be The A-80 zoning district requires a nunimum 80-acre parcel size.. However, smaller parcels were "grandfathered" when the area(including the Property) was rezoned to the A-80 zoning district. The 23-acre Property,previously was subject to a variancee and lot line adjustment in 2000(VR00-1077 and LL01-36). wc-110268 MORRISON FOERSTER Mr. Michael Henn September 14, 2005 Page Three detrimental to the health, safety and general welfare of the County. Further, the Project must not create a nuisance or enforcement problem within the neighborhood or community. CCCC § 26-2:2008(5). Even if the Project were approved to include 20 or fewer special events as recommended at one time by County staff, these findings could not be made. If the Applicant is allowed to host special events at the winery, such events would be detrimental to the safety and welfare of the surrounding community and would create traffic hazards and safety risks for the local residents. Special events would generate significant periods of increased traffic on an already dangerous local road system. The Property fronts on Victorine Road, a public street which.is approximately 16 feet wide. The County has recognized that two vehicles are only able to pass each other "somewhat carefully and at reduced speeds." See Staff Report for June 20, 2005 meeting of the Zoning Administrator, p. S=12. Additionally, sight distance is limited due to the uneven grade.of the road. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has evidence of a high number of traffic accidents and deaths at the nearby intersection of Victorine and Highland Road, due to high-speed traffic on a dangerous and narrow roadway (personal communication between Judith Wright and CHP Officer Steven Creel). If the special events were approved-, increased traffic would increase the possibility of serious accidents along Victorine and Highland Road. Other vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists traveling on the nearby roads also would be put at risk. Mr. and Mrs. Wright and their neighbors are further concerned that special events at the proposed winery will increase the potential for drunk-driving related traffic hazards and accidents. Even the Applicant's recent proposal to install a stop sign at the Victorine/Highland T-intersection will not adequately address this concern. Moreover, the parking supply would be unable to accommodate the unlimited number of guests that would attend the proposed special events, further contributing to a safety hazard for those entering and leaving the Property, as well as those traveling along Victorine Road. Parking on the Property is limited to an off-street parking area of about 10 gravel spaces located near the main house, with.an additional 10 to 15 spaces that could be created near the barn/winery building. Although the number of proposed parking spaces exceeds the 1 I spaces required by the County's Off-street Parking Ordinance, this 1 I space requirement is based only on the tasting room and barn/winery building, and does not take into account the number of spaces that would be necessary in order to accommodate additional cars during special events. During special events where more than 100 attendees could be expected, it is certain that the number of cars in need of parking would exceed 25. Many cars would be forced to park in makeshift overflow parking in the grassy areas along the drivewa}1; and potentially along Victorine Road, creating yet another obvious safety hazard for both the guests and those traveling along Victorine Road. The proposed special events would also create a nuisance for neighbors living near the Property. Two special events, with an unlimited number of guests and visitors, every weekend during six months out of the year will be disruptive to the surrounding wc-110268 MORRISON FOERSTER Mr. Michael Henn September 14, 2005 Page Four neighborhood. County staff concluded that special events of this frequency couldpotentially cause a nuisance. See Staff Report, p. S-12. Large crowds on the Property would lead to the potential for trespassing on nearby agricultural land. Also, increased noise due to the presence of large crowds, as well as amplified music or sound systems and increased traffic to and fi-om the Property, would be disruptive to nearby landowners and grazing activities. Similarly, outdoor lighting during the events would create glare, disturbing the'nearby landowners: Consequently, the proposed special events are incompatible with findings required pursuant to CCCC § 26-2.2008(5). The Proposed Special Events Do Not Satisfy the Findings for•an AccessoiT Use. -In addition to the required findings for approval'of a land use permit; the Project is also subject to the standards and policies set forth in the Development Guidelines for Wineries and Olive Oil Mills ("Guidelines"), adopted by the County Board of Supervisors in 2004. Under the Guidelines, special events may be allowed as accessory uses under a land use permit fora winery or an olive oil mill, provided that the events (1) are not injurious to the public safety (including access and parking considerations), (2) are not incompatible with agricultural uses, (3) are not disruptive to the community, (4) take place.in wineries locations that are appropriate for holding such events and (5) are clearly incidental and accessory to the vineyard/winery operation rather than the principal use. See Section E of the. Guidelines. In order for the County to approve a land use permit for a winery, the Zoning. Administrator also must find that there will be safe ingress and egress to the winery facility. See Section G of the Guidelines. This Project cannot meet any of those findings, and the County does not have substantial evidence necessary to support such.findings. See e:�. Topanga Assn. For a Scenic Community v. County of Los Angeles (-1974) 11 Ca1.3d 506. As discussed above, the traffic and parking constraints associated with the proposed special events pose significant risks to public safety. Cars parked along the. Victorine Road and in the driveway on the Property would significantly hinder the safe ingress and egress to the winery facility during the special events. Due to the close proximity of neighbors and the rural surroundings, theProperty is not an appropriate Ior safe location,to hold special events such as weddinvUs, receptions and fundraisers. The traffic, noiseand'ligllting durin(y the events would clearly be disruptive to quiet rural lifestyle-of the neighboring lando�rners; and inconsistent with the low intensity grazing land uses within the area. ' Special.events are not accessory to the proposed winery or olive oil mill facilities, a wedding reallyhas nothing to do with the operation of the olive mill.' The Applicant, herself, has admitted that the Project-is an effort to earn income (Seeletter Michael Henn, dated June 21, Of course, we recognize that the rural character.and pristine beauty of the Property and the surrounding area make this location desirable for holding such events. The Applicant has held a number of such events in the past, such as the Applicant's high school reunion on June 4, 2005,and.a wedding and reception on July 3, 2005, during which music was amplified late into the evening.. we-1 10?6£ MORRISON I FOERSTER Mr. Michael Henn September 14, 2005 Page Five 2005), confirming that special events are a potentially disruptive commercial use which are not necessarily dependent on the winery and olive mill. Thus, the SVRPC must find that the special events are incompatible with the agricultural uses, and should not be approved. The Initial Study Did Not Analyze Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Special Events. Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") (Pub. Resource Code §§ 21000 et. seq.), if a lead agency determines that there is substantial evidence in the record that a project may have a significant effect on the environment, an Environmental'Impact Report ("EIR") shall be prepared (14 Cal. Code Regs. § 15064(f)(1)). Alternatively, if the lead agency determines that there is no substantial evidence that the project will have a significant effect on the environment, a Negative Declaration may be prepared (14 Cal. Code Regs. § 15064(f)(3)). Because the April 2005 Initial Study did not identify any potentially s.igilificant environmental impacts, the Zoning Administrator determined that there was no substantial evidence that the Project would have a significant effect on the environment, and adopted a Negative Declaration. If the County were to decide to allow the proposed special events, further CEQA review would be required because the Initial Study does not include an adequate analysis of the potential impacts of the proposed special events to support the determination that the Project would not have a significant effect on the environment. See e.g. Kleist v. Cit>> of Glendale (1976) 56.Cal.App.3d 770 (city council's failure to review and consider information in an EIR before approving rezoning held invalid). For example, the Initial Study indicates that the Property is under a Williamson Act contract, but does not analvze whether the special events would conflict with the contract. Initial Study, p. 7. Further, the Initial Study does not evaluate the potential noise impacts resulting from large crowds and music inherent to the types of special events proposed, nor does it evaluate the potential for conflict with land use plans, policies and regulations. See Initial Study, pp. 14-15. Finally, the Initial Study does not even address the inadequate parking for the proposed special events, or the potential traffic impacts caused by an unlimited number of visitors traveling to and from the Property approximately one to two times per week. Initial Study, p. 17. Based on the evidence contained in this letter and the County's administrative record, a fair argument may be made that the special events would have a significant environmental impact. See Laurel Heights Iniproveinew Association- v. Regents of the University of California (1993) 6 CalAth 1 1 12. Consequently, further CEQA review for the Project must be conducted prior to any decision to approve the special events. The Proposed Special Events are Not Compatible Uses with the Williamson Act Contract. The Property is currently subject to a Williamson Act contract ("Contract"), which restricts uses on the Property to the production of food and fiber and compatible uses listed in CCCC §§ 84-4.2.402 and 84-4.2.404. Use Permit Condition No. 4 requires that prior to the commencement of the winery or olive oil mill use, the Property owner must initiate the we-1 10269 MORRISON I FOERSTER Mr. Michael Henn September 14, 2005 Page Six process to amend and update the Contract to reflect the current ownership, as well as the winery and olive oil mill uses. While wineries and facilities for processing agricultural products produced on the Property are listed as compatible uses under CCCC §§ 84-4.2.402 and 84-4.2.404, the proposed special events are not compatible uses. Special events thus, are not pennitted under the Contract. The special events (which are commercial and visitor- serving in nature) in no way contribute to agricultural or open space uses on the land. Further, the special events, along with the increased traffic, noise and light and potential trespassing onto agricultural land associated with the events, would be disruptive to and incompatible with the low intensity grazing and rural land uses within the area. In addition, Government Code section 51220.5 provides that when determining whether a proposed use is a "compatible use" under the Williamson Act, the County shall recognize that "a permanent or temporary population increase often hinders or impairs agricultural operations.".The special events are the very type of use that would hinder or impair nearby agricultural/ grazing activities. They would attract large groups of people to the Property, In . close proximity to the proposed vineyards and olive trees, fora minimum of several hours at least once of twice a week. Traffic and parking intrusion into the surrounding lands could interfere with ongoing grazing operations. Further, parking overflow into-the unpaved areas alone the driveway and Victorine Road could createa potential wildfire hazard. As explained above, the presence of largegroups of people on the Property would lead to increased noise and light on the Property. These effects due to an increased population would be disruptive to and could impair the low intensity grazing land uses within the area. Additionally, visitors searching for the Property could trespass onto neighbors' lands (which has occurred in the past on Mr. and Mrs. Wright's property), potentially disrupting grazing operations All of these impacts violate Government Code section 51.220.5. For all of the reasons set forth above, Mr. and Mrs. Wright request that the S\/RPC uphold the Zoning Administrator's decision to deny the land use permit for the proposed special events. We appreciate the opportunity to provide comments regarding the appeal of the Use Permit. Sincerely, l Alicia (3, erra Enclosures cc: Danielle hell), Mr. and Mrs. Wright wc-11026" EXHIBIT A Photographs of the Area Surrounding Victorine Road and Highland Road (Taken August 19, 2005) Photographs 89 through 92 were taken on the east side of Victorine Road facing north. Photograph 89 is just before the entrance to the Wright's property and the access road that services the Allen and Mozzacco properties. Photograph 91 is farther away from the entrance to the Wright's property, still facing north. The flag pole in their front yard and their water storage tanks on the hill are visible. Photographs 93 and 94 show the southern corner of the Springer's property, located on the west side of Victorine Road. The alley-way created by Arthur Reinstein is visible behind the olive trees in Photograph 93. Photograph 94 is taken on the road by the alley- way and shows the Robinson's young olive orchard. Photographs 97 through 99 show the shoulder and field conditions on the east side of Victorine Road. Photographs 100 and 101 show hazard signs placed along Highland Road to warn motorists (1) that there is no shoulder, (2) of the large pot holes within the road and (3) that the roadway is in generally bad condition. Photographs 103 through 109 were taken just.north of the intersection of Highland Road and Victorine Road. They show the tall grass along both sides of Victorine Road, as well as the grass inside and outside the fence lines. Photograph 104 shoes one of the blind curves on Victorine Road. Photograph 108 depicts the view north on Victorine Road, and shows another blind curve. Photograph 109 shows the view heading north. with the Robinson's property visible on the left. 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R' t �. ���}a�x.111 r�k ��- u d Mt b•CS 4°� �.»w.x.�,f U,i w � } a�.� e��... ,1¢d...... jr�+t •,, a�`'-+•- �7 rrrKir c p nd Lu'�I '� r il;} a a �+,� d ,.-- ��� F�1 � x �� �Y c•r.Ekc�.s, Mrc�� (�y .'[MC n I. t rs4 "a .t ��t%S" -a t` 144M4 a �' s !rf-�w>• 1 ta4' i P'7 � r L s?i m�{ �`�K `mar [` leo +:a+ F Fi �r�£ � Fy • �,1 �+ s i "j a.s11 ti �. ti;•r { �1"" ' n�aY'T -R '•{{ "�� 1 �nn FF:i:a- I�f� � 2' j k � a•� � i { z�: 1 F -'IM" _ �� � � ��•. �y rte'. � �,�� rm' 1 k t T & q. S mx—i." +C+ 'w ... � ' CEQA DETERMINATION Community Contra Dennis M. Barry,AICP mmurnty for Development Costa [�� ' Department County County Administration Building - 651 Pine Street 4th Floor, North Wing - S•L EIR, 11NTY CLERK r Martinez,California 94553-0095 81 - «dmron� _ �.� A STA COUNTY v,A BY U T Y Phone: (925) 335-1210 °s'A �oUK DA pn " NOTICE OF PUBLIC REVIEW AND INTENT TO ADOPT A PROPOSED NEGATIVE DECLARATION County File # LP042118 Pursuant to the State of California Public Resources Code and the "Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970" as amended to date, this is to advise you that the Community Development Department of Contra Costa County has prepared an initial study on the following project: The application relates to the approximately 23 acre property and project, located at 1090 Victorine Road, west side, north of Highland Road, North Livermore Area, (A-80) (ZA: W-22M) (CT: 3551.03) (Parcel 006-180-019). BRUCE and DALE SPRINGER, (Applicants & Owners); County File #LP042118: The applicant requests a Land Use Permit approval to operate a winery including retail sales of wine and a tasting room and incidental limited special events. The applicant also requests a variance to the requirement that the parking lot be paved. The proposed development does not have potential significant impacts on the environment. A copy of the negative declaration and all documents referenced in the negative declaration may be reviewed in the offices of the Community Development Department, and Application and Permit Center at the McBrien Administration Building, North Wing, Second Floor, 651 Pine Street, Martinez, during normal business hours. Public Comment Period - The period for accepting comments on the adequacy of the environmental documents extends to 5:00 P.M. May 18, 2005. Any comments should be in writing and submitted to the following address: Michael Henn Community Development Department Contra Costa County Office Hours Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Office is closed the 1st, 3rd & 5th Fridays of each month 651 Pine Street, North Wing, 4th Floor Martinez, CA 94553 It is anticipated that the proposed Negative Declaration will be considered for adoption at a meeting of the County Zoning Administrator on June 6, 2005. It is anticipated that the hearing will be held at McBrien Administration Buildinc', Room 107, Pine and Escobar Streets, Martinez. Name: Michael Henn Title: Project Planner cc: County Clerk's Office (2 copies) Attachment: Site Plan with Area Maps 1 Environmental Checklist Form 1. Project Title: Bruce and Dale Springer, Land Use Permit for Winery— County Files LP042118 2. Lead Agency Name and Address: Contra Costa County Community Development Department 651 Pine Street, North Wing -4th Floor Martinez, CA 94553 .3. Contact Person and Phone Number: Michael Henn Project Planner (925) 335-1204 4. Project Location: 1090 Victorine Road, west side; approximately 0.7 miles north of Highland Road,North Livermore Area APN: 006-180-019 5. Project Sponsor's Name and Address: Dale Springer, 1090 Victorine Road, Livermore CA94551 6. General Plan Designation: Agricultural Land (AL). This land use designation allows a density of 0.2 units per net acre, or up to one unit per 5 acres, as well as a limited amount of conditional uses, permitted by Land Use Permit 7. Zoning: A-80, Exclusive Agricultural District 8. Description of Project: The applicant proposes to operate a winery including a tasting room and retail sales of wine on a parcel containing 23 acres. Al] buildings proposed to be a part of the use are existing. The use may include as an accessory use a limited number of special events such as weddings,receptions, etc. Off-street parking is proposed. A variance to the requirement for paving the required parking is requested. (Zoning Ordinance Section 82- 16.012) 9. Surrounding Land Uses and Setting: Victorine Road extends north from Highland Road near the Contra Costa County/Alameda County line. The area consists of small rural ranchettes in the 20 acre parcel size range mixed with a few large acreage ranches. It is about 1.4 miles to the south to the Alameda county line and about 6.5 miles to I-580 in Livermore. Much steeper hills extend to the north in the direction of Mount Diablo. The area is rolling to slightly hilly ranchland with few trees. A large newer home and a barn currently occupy the site. Several acres of olives have been z planted on the site. Surrounding properties are largely grazing land. The site is gently rolling with its highest area near the center where the house is located. The elevation above sea level is about 940 feet near Victorme Road rising to. 980. in the central _ portion . and downsloping to the northwest toward an unnamed creek near the northwest corner of the nearly rectangular property. Olive trees are planted between the house and the road. Future vineyards are proposed near the northeast corner of the property. No creeks, wetlands or other water bodies are located where any development is existing or proposed. A small creek abuts the northwest corner of the property. There are few trees, other than the small recently planted olive trees on the site. An oak tree is near the western property line. 10. Other public agencies whose approval Contra Costa County Public Works Department, Contra is required (e.g. permits, financing Costa County Building Inspection Department, San approval, or participation agreement): Ramon Valley Fire Protection District California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. j ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED The environmental factors checked below would be potentially affected by this project, involving at least one impact that is a "Potentially Significant Impact" as indicated by the checklist on the following pages. Land Use &Planning _ Transportation/ _ Public Services Population and Circulation Utilities & Service Housing _ Biological Resources Systems Geological Problems _ Energy & Mineral _ Aesthetics _ Water Resources _ Cultural Resources Air Quality _ Hazards and _ Recreation Mandatory Findings Hazardous Materials of Significance _ Noise DETERMINATION On the basis of this initial evaluation: I find that the proposed project COULD NOT have a significant effect on the environment, and a X NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared. I find that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the environment, there will not be a significant effect in this case because the mitigation measures described on an attached sheet have been added to the project. A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared. I find that the proposed project MAY have a significant effect on the environment, and an ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT is required. I find that the proposed project MAY have a significant effect(s) on the environment, but at least one effect (1) has been adequately analyzed in an earlier document pursuant to applicable legal standards, and (2) has been addressed by mitigation measures based on the earlier analysis as described on attached sheets, if the effect is a "potentially significant impact" or "potentially significant unless mitigated." An ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT is required, but it must analyze only the effects that remain to be addressed. I find that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the environment, there WILL NOT be a significant effect in this case because all potentially significant effects (a) have been analyzed adequately in an earlier EIR pursuant to applicable standards and (b) have been avoided or mitigated pursuant to that earlier EIR, including revisions or mitigation measures that are imposed upon the proposed project. %1✓ 1 Cl�� ���ti�t C rit 7/ 2'p�5) Signature Da 4 Printed Name Michael Henn Project Planner Contra Costa County Community Development Department SOURCES In the process of preparing the Checklist and conducting the evaluation, the following references (which are available for review at the Contra Costa County Community Development Department, 651 Pine Street 2nd Floor-North Wing,Martinez)were consulted: 1. The Contra Costa County General Plan (July 1996). 2. Title 8 Planning and Zoning Ordinance. 3. Site visit conducted January 2005. 4. Contra Costa County Important Farmland 2000 map. 5. Project description and plans submitted August 31, 2004. 6. httn:'.iw\,,!tA:.blo]oaicaldiversity.org/swcbd/sT)ecies!ctigersal.' 7. Contra Costa Water District Interim Service Area Listed Species Occurrences and Potential Habitat Map (June 2000). 8. Bay Area Air Quality Management District CEQA Guidelines, December 1999. 9. Memo from the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District prepared by Mike Mentink dated April 1, 2005. 10. 2002 Hazardous Waste and Substance Sites (Cortese C) List— State of California. 11. Contra Costa Flood Zone Rate Insurance Map—Panel 0600250500B. 12. Contra Costa County Public Works Department memo prepared by Keith Hoey dated March 30, 2005 13. Response from the Contra Costa County Department of Environmental Health, dated November 16, 2004. 14. Contra Costa County, Soil Survey, USDA Sol] Conservation Service. 6 EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS: Potentially Significant Potentially Unless Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant No ITnnact Incorporated IrnDact Impact I. AESTHETICS—Would the project: a) Have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista? (Source: 1, 3, 5) X b) Substantially damage scenic resources, including but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a state scenic highway? (Source: 3) X c) Substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of' the site and its surroundings? (Sources: 3, 5) d) Create a new source of substantial light or glare that would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area? (Source: 5) Summary:Less than Significant Impact a) Victorine Road does not extend beyond the subject property and the site is only visible from that dead-end road. The proposed use consisting of olive groves and vinevards would not have an adverse impact. The existing buildings are proposed to be used for the winery. b) The proposed uses would not damage scenic resources. There are few trees, no rock outcrops or historic buildings on the site. c) The addition of new landscaping, and other improvements connected with the use will alter the visual character of the site. However, the new uses are of a scale and character that is compatible with existing agricultural and rural residential development in the area. d) The project may create new sources of light at night. Considering the rural character of the area, these new sources of light will not be a significant impact. The conditions of approval for the project will require all nighttime exterior lighting be directed downward and away from neighboring properties. IL AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES — In determining whether impacts to agricultural resources are significant environmental effects, lead agencies may refer to the California Agri cultural Land Evaluation and Site Assessment Model (1997) prepared by the California Dept. Of Conservation as an.optional model to use in assessing impacts on agricultural and farmland. Would the project: a) Convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance (Farmland), as shown on the maps prepared pursuant to the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of the California Resources Agency, to non- agricultural use? (Source: 4) X 7 Potentially Significant Potentiallv Unless Less Than Significant Mitigation significant No 1n)acl Inco;orated In7DHc1 Impact b) Conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use, or a Williamson Act Contract? (Sources: 2,4) X c) Involve, other changes in the existing; environment, which due to their location or nature, could result in conversion of farmland, to non-agricultural use? (Source: 4, 5) a Summar: No Impact a—c) The site is historically grazing land although the more level alluvial areas are rated as prime farm land. The subject property will remain in agricultural use but more intensively used. The site is located in an area designated prime agriculture on the Contra Costa County Important Farmland 2000 Map. The Contra Costa County General Plan designates the area for agricultural lands uses. The site is under a Williamson Act contract. III. AIR QUALITY - Where available, the significance criteria established by the applicable air quality management or air pollution control district may be relied upon to make the following determinations. Would the project: a) Conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality plan? (Sources: 5, 8) X b) Violate any air quality standard or contribute to an existing or projected air quality violation? (Sources: 1, 8) X c) Result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the project region is a non-attainment under an applicable federal or state ambient air quality standard (including releasing emissions which exceed quantitative thresholds for ozone precursors)? (Sources: 5, 8) X d) Expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations? (Sources: 1, 3, 5) . X e) Create objectionable odors affecting a substantial number of people? (Source: 3, 5) X Summar: Less Than Significant Impact a) The proposal does not conflict with implementation of an applicable air quality plan. b—c) The region is currently in non-attainment for ozone and fine particulate matter (PMIO). The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) regulates air quality in the Bay Area and has set thresholds of significance for air emissions. This project would not exceed 8 Potentially Significant Potentially Unless Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant No Impact Incomorated Impact Impact those thresholds. Continued agricultural use of.this site has been included as part of the Contra Costa County General Plan and therefore has been included in the air quality plan for the region. The winery use is not an inherent producer of PMIo pollution. No new construction is proposed so that the construction activities would not cause a temporary increase in ambient levels of PMIo. d) No sensitive receptors are located in the vicinity of the project. e) No objectionable odors are expected to be emitted as a result of the project. Winery operations do produce waste products that will be regulated in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Health Division of the Health Services Department. IV. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES—Would the project: a) Have a substantial adverse effect, either directly or through habitat modifications, on any species identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special status species in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations, or by the California Department of Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? (Sources: 1, 6; 7) X b) Have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian habitat or other sensitive natural community identified in local or regional plans, policies, regulations or by the California Department. of Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? (Sources: 3, 7) X c). Have a substantial adverse effect on federally protected wetlands as defined by Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (including but not limited to, marsh, vernal pool, coastal, etc.) through direct removal, filling, hydrological , interruption, or other means? (Source: 3) X d) Interfere substantially with the movement of-any native resident or migratory fish or_ wildlife species or with established native resident or migratory wildlife corridors; or impede the use of. native wildlife nursery sites?.(Sources: 1, 3, 7) X e) Conflict with any ,local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources; such as tree preservation policy or ordinance? (Sources:1.2.3) X f) Conflict with the provisions of an adopted Habitat Conservation Plan, Natural Community Conservation Plan, or other approved local, 9 Potentially Significant Potentially unless Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant No lmnact Incomorated IMP2Ct Imam regional or state habitat conservation plan? (Source: 1) X Summary: No Impact a) The Contra Costa Water District Interim Service Area Listed Species Occurrences and Potential Habitat Map (June 2000) does not identify the general vicinity of the project as habitat for any threatened or endangered species. The.project site itself being cultivated orchard and grazing land would not be adversely affected by the winery use to be located within existing buildings. b) No riparian habitats or other sensitive natural communities would be affected by the winery use to be located within existing buildings. C) The site is not within a wetland area. d) The site is located in a long developed agricultural area. Development would not interfere with the migration of fish;birds or other animals. e) The proposal does not conflict with any such policies or ordinances. No trees are proposed to be removed. f) There is no such plan for this area. V. CULTURAL RESOURCES —Would the project: a) Cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource as defined in Section 15064.5? (Source: 1) X b) Cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of an archaeological resource pursuant to 15064.5? (Source: 1) X c) Directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource or site or unique geological feature? (Source: 3, 5) 7h d) Disturb any human remains, including those interred outside of formal cemeteries? (Source: 3; 5) Summary: Less than Signicant lntpact a —b) The project proposes to use existing agricultural buildings for winery uses. No new construction is proposed. c) No unique geological features_are apparent on-site. Should paleontological resources be uncovered during grading or other- on-site excavation(s), earthwork within (30) yards of these materials shall be stopped until a certified professional archaeologist/paleontologist has had an opportunity to evaluate the significance of the find and suggest appropriate mitigations) if deemed necessary. 10 Potentially Significant Potentially unless Less Than Significant Mitieanon significant No Impact Incomorated Inroad Impact d) No human remains are apparent on-site. Should remains be discovered, construction work shall be stopped and the coroner shall be contacted immediately, per, Public Resources Code Section 15064.5(e). VI. GEOLOGY AND SOILS —Would the project: a) Expose people or structures to potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk,of loss, injury, or death involving: 1. Rupture of a known earthquake fault, as delineated on the most recent .Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Map issued by the State Geologist for the area or based on other substantial evidence of a known fault? Refer to Division of Mines and Geology Special Publication 42. (Source: 1) X 2. Stronc seismic ground shaking? (Source: 1) X 3. Seismic-related ground failure, including liquefaction? (Source: 1) X 4. Landslides? (Source: 3, 5) X b) Result in substantial soil erosion or the loss of topsoil? (Sources: 1, 5, 12) X c) Be, located on a geologic unit or soil that is unstable, or that would become unstable as a result of the project, and potentially result in on-or off-site landslide, lateral spreading, subsidence, liquefaction or collapse? (Source:1, 12, 14) X d) Be located on expansive soil, as defined in Table 18-1-B of the Uniform Building Code (1998), creating substantial risks to life or property? (Source: 14) e) Have soils incapable of adequately supporting the use of septic tanks or alternative waste disposal systems where sewers are not available for the disposal of wastewater? (Sources: 1, 5, 13, 14) X Summary:Less Than SicniTzcaw Impact. a) 1. There are no faults mapped in the vicinity. The building proposed to be occupied for wine tasting will be required to meet current building codes including, seismic requirements. 1-3. The San Francisco Bav Area is a region of high seismic activity and the proposed use could be exposed to strong seismic ground shaking. However, there are no new buildings 11 Potentially Significant Potentially unless. Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant No Impact Incorporated Impact lmnact proposed. The building proposed to be occupied for wine tasting will be required to meet current building codes including seismic requirements. 4. The site is nearly flat and would not be susceptible to landslides. b) The site is nearly level and used for agricultural use and the soil are not prone to erosion hazard according to the Soil Conservation Service. c—d) See "a) 2-3." above. e) The .septic tanks are existing and no new construction is proposed. Because of the potential for increased use of the septic tanks, approval of the Environmental Health Division of the Health Services Department is required. VII. HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS—Would the project: a) Create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through the routine transport, use or disposal of hazardous materials? (Source: 5) �C b) Create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through reasonably foreseeable upset and accident conditions involving the release of hazardous materials into the environment? X (Source: 5) c) Emit hazardous emissions or handle hazardous or acutely hazardous materials, substances or waste within one-quarter mile of an existing or proposed school? (Source: 1, 3) X d) Be located on a site which is included on a list of hazardous materials sites compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65862.5 and, as a result, would it create a significant hazard to the public or the environment? (Source: 10), X e) For a project located within an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted; within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project result in a safety hazard for people residing or.working in the project area. (Sources: 1, 5) X 0 For a project within the vicinity of a private airstrip, would the project result in a safety hazard for people residing or working in the project area? (Source: 1) X gj Impair implementation of or physically interfere with an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan? (Sources: 1. 9) X hj Expose people or structures to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving wildland fires, 1' Potentially Significant Potentially Unless Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant No Impact Incorporated Impact impact including where wildlands are adjacent to urbanized areas or where -residences are intermixed with wildlands? (Source: 3, 9) X Summary:Less than Significant Impact a—b) The proposal involves the use of chemicals used in the winemaking process, typically including tartaric acid, citric acid, gaseous CO2 and nitrogen., and cleaning agents such as Oxyclean. These products are considered to be Food Grade by the Hazardous Materials Section of the Health Services Department and are not hazardous in the amounts used. C) The site is not within '/4 mile of a school. d) The site is not listed. e) The site is not within the vicinity ofan airport. f) The site is not in the vicinity of a private airstrip. g) The project would not interfere with implementation of an emergency response plan or evacuation.plan. h) The site is developed with agricultural uses and existing buildings will be used for the Proposed winery. The proposed use would not increase the risk of wildland fires. VIII. HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY—Would the project: a) Violate any water quality standards or waste discharge requirements? (Source: 5) X b) Substantially deplete groundwater supplies or interfcre substantially with groundwater recharge such that there would be a net deficit in aquifer volume or a lowering of the local groundwater table (e.g., the production rate of pre-existing nearby wells would drop to a level which would not support existing land uses or planned uses for which permits have been granted)? (Sources: 1, 3, 5) c) Substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river, in a manner that would result in substantial erosion or siltation on- or off-site? (Sources: 3, 5, 12) ' d) Substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river, or substantially increase the rate or amount of surface run-off in a 13 Potentially Significant Potentially Unless Less Than significant Mitigation Significant No Impact Incorporated Impact imnact manner.that would result in flooding on-or off- site? (Sources: 3, 5, 12) X e) Create or contribute runoff water that would exceed the capacity of existing or planned storm water drainage systems or provide substantial additional sources of polluted runoff? (Sources: 215, 12) f) Otherwise substantially degrade water quality? (Source: 5) X g) Place housing; within a 100-year flood hazard area as mapped on a Federal Flood Hazard Boundary or Flood Insurance Rate Map or other flood hazard delineation map? (Source: 11) X h) Place within a 100-year flood hazard area structures that would impede or redirect flood flows? (Source: 5,11) X i) Expose people or structures to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving flooding, including flooding as a result of the failure of a levee or dam? (Source: 11) X j) Inundation by seiche, tsunami, or mudflow? (Source: 1) X Summary.Less than Significant Impact a) As regulated by the Environmental Health Division of the Health Services Department, the winery use would not discharge wastewater. The sanitary needs would be handled by the septic tank in conformance with County requirements. The winery parking lot can be expected to produce a minimal amount of polluted runoff due to leaks from automobiles, spills from food service, etc. This pollution would be negligible and is considered insignificant. b) Domestic water would be drawn from an underground aquifer. The effect on ground water levels is considered negligible. c—d) Drainage patterns would not be altered. The site currently drains towards its northwestern boundary and that would continue. e) The Ordinance Code requires that new storm water runoff be collected and conveyed to an adequate natural watercourse.or an adequate man-made system that empties into a natural watercourse. The buildings are existing and the parking lot is proposed to be gravel. There would not be an increase in impervious surface. f) The project would not otherwise degrade water quality. g— i ) No part of the area proposed for the winery use is within a 100-year flood hazard area and is not threatened by flood hazards. 14 Potentially Significant Potentially Unless Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant No Imnact lncomorated Impact Impact J) Such events would not occur in the.project area. IX, LAND USE AND PLANNING—Would the project: a) Physically divide an established community? (Source: 3) X b) Conflict with any applicable land use plan,policy, or the regulation of an agency with jurisdiction over the project (including, but not limited to the general plan,,specific plan, local coastal program, or zoning ordinance) adopted for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an environmental effect? (Sources: 1, 2) _ . X c) Conflict with any applicable habitat conservation plan or natural community conservation plan? (Source: 1) X Summary: No Impact a) The proposal would not divide an established community. b) The proposed use includes the continued use of this agriculturally zoned use for agricultural purposes. The proposal would not conflict with policies.or plans regarding wineries in the Agricultural Lands area. c) No such plans exist for the area. X. MINERAL RESOURCES—Would the project: a) Result in the loss of availability of a known mineral resource that would be of value to the region and the residents of the state? (Source: 1) b) Result in the loss or availability of a locally important mineral resource recovery site delineated on a local general plan, specific plan, or other land use plan? (Source: 1) X Summary: No Impact a—b) No mineral resources are located in the area. XI. NOISE—Would the project result in: a) Exposure of persons. to or generation of noise levels in excess of standards established in the. 15 Potentially Sip 6cant Potentially Unless Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant No Impacl Incorporated Impact Impact local general plan or noise ordinance, or applicable standards of other agencies? (Sources: 1, 3) b) Exposure of persons to, or generation of, excessive ground borne vibration or ground borne noise levels? (Source: 1, 3, 5) X c) A substantial permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the project vicinity above levels existing without the project? (Sources: 3, 5) X d) A substantial temporary or periodic increase in ambient noise levels in the project vicinity above levels existing without the project? (Sources: 3, 5) X e) For a project located within an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels? (Sources: 1, 3) X f) For a project within the vicinity of a private airstrip, would the project expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels? (Source: 1) X SUMMARY: Less than Signnificanr IMPact a) The winery use is not an inherent generator of noise in excess of that established by the General Plan. The traffic noise from nearby roads would not exceed the noise standard for the winery business as shown in the General Plan b) The winery use would not produce substantial amounts of ground borne noise or vibrations. The existing conditions in the area would not expose future visitors to substantial ground borne noise or vibrations. C) The winery use is not inherently noisy and would not lead to a substantial permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the area. d) The buildings are existing and no new buildings are proposed. e— f) The site is not within two miles of a public airport. XII. POPULATION AND HOUSING — Would the project: a) Induce substantial population growth in an area; either directly (for example, by proposing new homes and businesses) or indirectly (for example, throuLyh extension of roads or other 16 Potentially Significant Potentially Unless Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant No Impact Incomorated lmflact impact infrastructure)? (Source: 5) X b) Displace substantial numbers of existing housing, necessitating the construction of replacement housing elsewhere? (Source: 3, 5) c) Displace substantial numbers of people, necessitating the construction of replacement housing elsewhere? (Source: 5) X Summary: No Impact a) The development of.a winery use on an existing residential property with accessory buildings would not induce substantial population growth. b) The winery use would not displace existing residents. C) No persons would be displaced as a result of the winery use. XIII. PUBLIC SERVICES a) Would the project result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objcctives for any of the public services? (Sources: 1, 2, 9, 13) 1. Fire Protection? X 2. Police Protection? X 3. Schools? X 4. Parks? X 5. Other public facilities? X Summarv:No Impact a. 1 —2. The San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District and the Contra Costa County Sheriffs Department serve the site. This development is not anticipated to cause a substantial increase in demand for either service. 3. The.winery.use would have no impact on School district revenues or demands. 4. The winery use would have no impact on park district revenues or demand for services. 5. The project isnot anticipated to cause significant impacts to other public facilities. XIV. RECREATION 17 Potential]% Significant Potential)% unless Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant No Impact Incorporated Impact Impact a) Would the project increase the use of existing neighborhood and regional parks or other recreational facilities such that substantial physical deterioration of the facility would occur or be accelerated? (Source: 5) X b) Does the project include recreational facilities or require - the construction or expansion of recreational facilities that might have an adverse physical effect on the environment? (Source: 5) X Summarv:Less than Significant Impact a) It might be supposed that some winery visitors might on occasion visit a park in the general area. This impact is considered negligible. b) On-site picnicking may occur but this would be limited to customers and this would not have ani adverse physical effect on the environment. XN/. TRANSPORTATION/TRAFFIC—Would the project: a) Cause an increase in traffic that is substantial in relation to the existing traffic load and capacity of the street system (i.e. result in a substantial increase in either the number of vehicle trips, [lit volume to capacity ratio on roads; or congestion at intersections? (Source: 1, 3, 12) b) Exceed, either individually or cumulatively, a level of service standard established by the county congestion management agency for designated roads or highways? (Source: 12) X c) Result in a change in air traffic patterns, including either an increase in traffic levels or a change in location that results in substantial safet}- risks? (Source: 5, 12) X d) Substantially increase hazards due to a design feature (e.g. sharp curves or dangerous intersections) or incompatible uses (e.(,. farm equipment)? (Sources: 5, 12) X e) Result in inadequate emergency access? (Sources: 9) X f) Result in inadequate parking capacity? (Sources: 2, 5) g) Conflict with adopted policies, plans or programs 18 Potentially Significant Potentially Unless Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant No Impact Incomorated Impact Impact supporting alternative -transportation (e.g., bus turnouts, bicycle racks)? (Sources: 1, 3, 12) X Summarv: Less Than.Significant Inipact a'-b) The project will generate slightly more traffic than the existing single family residence currently does but this increase would be .minor and occur in non-peak periods particularly weekends. C) The buildings are not tall enough to affect air.traffic patterns. d) No hazardous design features or incompatible uses are proposed. e) The Fire District raised no concerns regarding access. f) The applicant is requesting a variance to allow provision of unpaved parking spaces where asphalt or concrete surfacing is required by the Zoning Ordinance. However the number of spaces proposed exceeds the required number of spaces so that an adequate number of spaces will be provided.; g) .. The development must comply with the County's Transportation Demand Management ordinance. XVI. UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS—Would the project: a) Exceed wastewater treatment requirements of the applicable Regional Water Quality Control Board? (Source: 5) b) Require or result in the construction of new water or wastewater treatment facilities or expansion of existing,facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental effects? (Source: 1, 5) X c) Require or result in the construction of new storm water drainage facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental effects? (Source: 11, 12) X d) Have sufficient water supplies available serve the project from existing entitlements and resources, X or are new or expanded entitlements needed? (Source: 1, 5) e) Result in a' determination by the wastewater treatment provider that serves or may serve the project that it has adequate capacity to serve the project's projected demand in addition to the . provider's existing commitments? (Source: 1, 5) X f) Be served by a landfill with.sufficient permitted capacity to accommodate the project's waste 19 Potentially Significant Potentially Unless Less Than significant Mitigation Significant No Impact Incomotated impact Im act disposal needs? (Source: 1) X g) Comply with federal, state and local statutes and regulations related to solid waste? (Source: 1) Summary:Less than Significant Impact a) The operation would not discharge untreated.wastewater. b d, e) Water is being. provided by private wells. Although olive trees and grape vines are drought tolerant, well water supply would limit the scale of irrigated agriculture. A private septic tank system meeting the requirements of the Environmental Health Division shall be provided. Approval of the Environmental Health Division of the Health Services Department shall be required. C) It is not anticipated-that new storm drainage facilities would be required. The.developer is not increasing the amount of impervious surface so that no improvements are being requested by the Public Works Department. f—g) The development would produce normal business trash that would be dumped in an approved landfill. XVII. MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE a) Does the project have the potential to degrade the quality of the environment, substantially reduce the habitat of a fish and wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife population to drop below self- sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or animal community, reduce the number or restrict the range of a rare or endangered plant or animal or eliminate important examples of the major periods of California history or prehistory? X b) Does the project have impacts that are individually limited, but cumulatively considerable? (Cumulatively considerable means that the incremental effects of a project are considerable when viewed in connection with the effects of past projects,the effects of other current projects, and the effects of probable future projects)? X c) Does the project have environmental effects that will cause substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly? X Summan­. Less tha72 Significmzt Impact .20 Potentially Significant Potentially Unless Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant No }nmact IneOMOTated 1iinact Imus a) The project would not degrade the;quality of the natural environment or threaten any ;plant or animal species or communities. Important examples of California's history would not be threatened. b) There would be no cumulative environmental impacts as a result of this project. C) There would be no substantial adverse impacts'on humans. f S bA'ly w.r T ^1 r•_ v uyo u�=to d iwN,v�..crt sr. s t i- W;Z'M I CZ Q - t Q o C) sk N y ! j CL v i � pdOH d\G O O \ rN\o'd •U �\d ilii � o I � J y � I Illl � a - � � � Q Illllo _ N E C9 N ��� 3 N � R Q Illlla .i - 01'��.ir a I 'I'•I I I II o a O o CVi 71 l i g c � c :x? 115- 00 Q Q asA4 ; L i y 00 4 Z co READ .. q V1 n v -3N17.107"JA' - JA'17 T07 JW \ 1,1 G (T, Zu P' m 0 1p7 t�.,, ___- - \• 4?� L I F 4t i v -- M1 v j C: / Ci 61 v J o fes, 1 n i I LL � v r� a- �o MIWOW V d O u[FriSat 'Lr POND iF9n5., a _ o c RINE m IC1d — Inge gr,6,,n.a....s 970.15 O X50'3'i5"C 945 16 d0' 3 33"YS.g 978 Z5 us � Ra c env n O OL'Fft t 95 rte r s: - n�.5;M i 7.95,4 t, ry rL � GOit, ti�� 9F� CO m u.5sss aa; (O - UN 0 'rC NLnI tk d d O s s a- 0- ;, Q 31 6V ;cocr ,,Lor+ rs - jv y - CD � N iy\moo � du'aa�a 6 o'��Noc O aoQ Ds�n N uDag y I f I t tC7 O i i NOTIFICATION LIST 6170027 — 6150001 'T 61n"u021 7Z LIVESTOCK COMPANY LLC LEONARDIlVI MARGERETTRE HERMANSON SUSAN A 4788 BEL ROMA 2001 VICTORINE RD 1080 VICTORINE RD LIVERMORE CA 94551 LIVERMORE CA 94551 LIVERMORE CA 94551 6150018 6150015 6180019 WRIGHT EDWIN E &JUDITH TRE WRIGHT EDWIN E &JUDITH TRE SPRINGER R BRUCE &DALE ANN 2000 VICTORITIE RD 2000 VICTORINE RD 1090 VICTORINE RD LIVERMORE CA 94551 LIVERMORE CA 94551 LIVERMORE CA 94551 6180012 6180022 USDA Soil Conservation Service REINSTEIN PROPERTIES L P REINSTEIN PROPERTIES LP 8201 HIGHLAND RD 8201 HIGHLAND RD Office of Land and Conservation LIVERMORE CA 94551 LIVERMORE CA 94551 801 K Street, MS 13-71 Sacramento, Ca 95814 CC Resource Conservation District San Ramon Valley Protection District City of Livermore 5552 Clayton Road 1500 Bollinger Canyon Road 1052 South Livermore Avenue Concord, Ca 94521 San Ramon, Ca 94583 Livermore, Ca 94550 Russell & Eloise Leonardini Christopher Wright Linda Leonardini c/o 2001 Victorine Road 2002 Victorine Road c/o 2001Victorine Road Livermore, Ca 94551 Livermore, Ca 94551 Livermore, Ca 94551 Vera Reinstein P.O. Box 826 Stacy Diaz Jeffrey Hicks 8100 Cormeal Road c/o 2001. Victorine Road 1075 Victorine Road Livermore, Ca 94551 Livermore, Ca 94551 Livermore, Ca- 94551 Dwaine &Janet Montes Timothy & Chau Allen Evelyn Hilbert 8200 Highland Road 2045 Victorine Road 9050 Highland Road Livermore, Ca 94551 Livermore, CA 94551 Livermore, Ca 94551 William Mazzacco Michael Murray Tim Wood 21 Chestnut Place 11700 Morgan Territory Road 100 Twin Oaks Lane Danville, Ca 94506 Livermore, Ca 94551 Livermore, Ca 94551 Dennis De Silva John BoNvies /S. Splendorio; 3144 Roundhill Rd. 4788 Bel Roma Rd. Hoge, Fenton, Jones & Appel Alamo, CA 94507 Livermore, CA 94551 6155 Stoneridge Dr. # 200 Pleasanton, CA 94588 r y >n .�L Gtt. -t t{( p2srseyCV .'•..:.."` � -�r �••-�fi"'4��°v �.;, t.sr•.`^�+�,-'p,\ �q7� 1+r-'=1� �`t+L ✓Q�t���h- `� .,F.� ';s•. 't'�j.q yt .- '••._ .a:' „' `'"L`.wl>, s.g, ��..,..-r- e y��YF��^�� �` ,.,�-Ir •. Y,,i)I 4 1 _ O Al .' Q� S,Q, l . v �n "+ 14 61 o- A—V �'S2 MR We,TJ °_ -G�Pco Sunol Ridge Ranch, Inc. 1090 Victorine Road • Livermore, CA 94551 October 19, 2006 Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Martinez, CA Dear Honorable Supervisors, My wife and I desire to operate a small winery, olive mill, tasting room and activity space at the above location. The Planning Department has agreed in principle with the olive mill, winery and tasting room but objected to our hosting activities. Our neighbors have expressed their nominal willingness to accept a winery and olive mill, but object to any business that would include the general public. At the last planning meeting the commissioners stated that they were predisposed to allow a certain number of public activities, but objected to the number we proposed at that meeting. Had there been an open dialog between the Commissioners and us, we feel certain that a compromise could have been reached. Given the input from our neighbors and our wish to accommodate their concerns, we would like to modify our proposal to the following alternative: 1. Tasting room by appointment only and limited to the hours of 1:00p to 4:00p. 2. Limit public activities to ten(10) per year as follows: a. Corporate functions, limited to 45 attendees with weekday hours 9:00a to 7:00 pm and/or • weekend hours limited to 10:00a to 7:00 pm b. No more than four(4) anniversary, birthday or wedding activities, limited to 110 people and occurring on Saturday, 10:00am to 9:00p or Sunday, 10:00am to 6:00pm. c. No outside live music d. No parking of any activity vehicles on Victorine Road. Parking for over 100 vehicles is currently available on the property. e. No smoking allowed anywhere on the property. f. The public activity use permit would expire in two years, and require that Sunol Ridge Ranch re-apply for such use in October of 2008. We have an excellent and documented track record of working with municipal officials and our fellow neighbors for the betterment of the community, and feel that our proposed business is in keeping with the County's long term goals of rural preservation and land utilization. As residents of Livermore we ask that we be provided the same opportunities afforded our Livermore neighbors in Alameda County, which currently has thirty-four wineries. Your time and consideration are appreciated. Sincerely,' • Bruce and Dale Ann Springer r i� OW �,,p BtS1_A_ 7=7 � :q S tw r `' ?;r $+°}b` S�`� � a Fx +a *x'�T�#.-.-sc+ •�-v`� ,'z. ` ...._ a ®.'Finance IY1V II1 KEY NorthS. (continued from page one) Vfficulture% "Tourists do not come to wine country, with some 26 winent country,to experience suburbia. draws 300,000 visitors a year.Tl The Key to They come to get away from it,'' areaboasts the Han estWine C< said the mayor. ebration. Wente Cotice Seiic He said Livermore has.a California Independent f=ilm Fe Mayor F n SayS, "golden opportunity"to become rival,and next year the Canadi: a wine/arts tourism destination Professional Golf Tour at d Revitalizing North Livermore both Borth and south of the city,' that.would create an invigorated Wente course.The proposed 50 agriculture is the key to the suc- he said, downtown and an improved qual- seat and 1500-seat theaters cess of tine South Livermore Kamena addressed the churn- attract of life for both residents and attract local and N:orla-fame viticultural plait, says,Mayor. ber directors to rebut Pardee businesses. "We cannot realize performers in the corning year Marshall Kainena. Homes' recent presentation to this economic"vision unless %ve Downtown revitalization is gai "...it?orde.rtoreach:ifs_pciten- them. Pardee sought their en- commit to developing intensive in,, montenturu. includin d tial,rite Livermore wine:appella- dorsement for a proposed Bevel- agriculture in North Livermore.`' opening of a multi-screen? nio�: tion needs extensive-promotion. opulent of 2450 homes..The he.said. theater next ;rear. "-are acres need to be planted., board was slated to discuss yes- Kamena said ag development Kaniena said a corrimur,i � se can then support a greater .terday(after our deadline for this 'depends on bringing irrigation survey commissioned by the Ci arketing effort.opening North edition)whether to take a stand water to the area.He noted a com- of Livermore in-100! found n?d S 0 Livermore to viticulture. would on the project. mitteeestablished bythe Tri-Val- support arnonCresidents_orpre create the cri[icat mass the Liv- Kamen described the Bevel ley Business Council has been ervation of Li��erntore's su erniore wine industry needs." opulent as ."a massive housing looking into that, and has con- rounding a_riculturaliopt K.aniena observed at it meeting tract.down the-central,most vis eluded that the soil is conducive. space lands.He noir-d Thar Live with die board of Bre Livermore ible portion of the North Liver- to vin6yards and other crops and more.residents for more than Chamber of Commerce last week. mom Valley.(10 will irreparably that North Livermore agriculture years have consist nrly votr ,41f large enough to market damage the scenic beauty of the has the potential to be profitable. down measures to urbanize rho properly, Livermore would be- area.Opening the path to one de- He said the City Council has lands and ha:•c umse.ated d come a major riticultural desti velopment in North Livermore. voted to explore an ag-water- c0LUiciI rut niers t+1-Al pronlol( naliou ofEering' 3neries,tied and will open the floodgate; others project with Zone 7. In addition=. such measures. breakfasts, restaurants, golf and will despoil the entire viewshed. a-proposed county measure to Urging die chamber board other winery retested anienities (See KEY`page 2) fund agriculwrelopenspace pres- reject Pardee's endorsement r• ervation may include funds for quest. Kamena stlid. "Build or, the ag_water. The Pardee devel- 30-year successful campaign - opment could kill this project, presen-e a.ing of agri_-uhure ar Kamen believes. open space around the city.in tin Because Pardee's property lies direction lie our unique ide.nti outside the North Livermore ur- ,rntl our ban.growth boundary, the devel- opment-requires.voter approval. Parde'e'has filed an initiative aimed at placing the issue on the ballot in June. Kamena asserted that the growth boundary must be up- held. "It will protect North Livermore's rural ambiance and the large parcels needed for viti- culture.In this situation,govern- ment agencies and private inves- tors-will be encouraged to fi- nance an irrigated water project i and other infrastructure. Vine- By Ron McNicoll �i - I 2 i 'r Yr• � Vii:: � a L A� yAa+PJ'.^' 01® O O ives uring Livermore A Step Clrt-Nyser ToMediterranean Aclimate that is good for growing grapes is also good for growing olives, as Greece, Spain, Italy and other Mediterranean countries have proven. With a similar Mediterranean climate,the Valley is start- ing to take on olives as its second major crop. here are five or six growers who tion for the name Olivina.The 70 acres want to grow more trees. They ]ear have 18 acres or more of orchards. is planted in 13,000 olive trees. Some go (at meetings) about the idiosyncrasic More than a year ago,they formed back more than 100 years,and are still- when it comes to growing olives," sai The Livermore Olive Growers Associa- producing. Crohare. tion,a group similar to the Valley Wine- Crohare is confident that the market Pest management is one issue the growers Association.The goal is to draw for olives is expanding. "I think more newcomers to agriculture have to dez as much attention to Livermore as an people will get involved in growing ol- with. Local olive growers avoid usin olive growing region as the wine people ives.The medical profession has helped, pesticides. They get the job done wit are focusing on their product by showing how good olive oil is for organics,sticky materials that deal wit Charles Crohare, Sr., owns Olivina, people,"said.Crohare. the olive fruit fly,Crohare said. j on Wetmore Road,with his son,Charles, When the Valley olive growers meet,it Karen Hughes has 1200 olive tree Jr.The Olivina property has been in the isn't just the larger growers like Crohare. on her land at the Purple Orchid Inr family since 1940.It has been the site for "We have people who have just one tree, a bed and breakfast inn on Cross Roac olives and grapes, which was inspira- or whatever the case. If they can, they near Tesla Road.Guests are usually cit; 4'Februar-2001 \�\ »�� � \ � w>�\ � . �. ~\ �\ A � .� � . � �\ �\ :�. .m ��t .� ��} � \ � �\ � '��\ i V • To Brentwood o z - r- SPRINGTOWN GOLF COURSEm rri P To Tracy/ Z Co Stockton O m m z m RAILROAD AVE. n �O 0 0 0 3LVD. 4 PORTOLLA AVE PqT jFRs�IV pgSS v n 2 LIVER IORI Ra LUPIN WAY Page Mill Cedar _ EAST AVE. Crooked Vine& Mountain r Retzlaff Stony Ridge Bodeg Aguirre 0 061' I�GF�� Concannon well Carre Winery o = op Winery 5� &Cafe a v, • �, � z ! TESLA RD. '� Wente Vineyards Estate m CONCANNON BLVD. MARINA RD. _L_'4' BoaVentura Steven Kent Tamas Estates ALDEN LN. Murrieta�s La Rochelle de Caires Winery LVC A, Fell t`+ POPPY RIDGE GOLF COURSE I Katz Winery Eckert Estate CEDAR MT.DR. Food Family Vineyards tuby Hill WETMORE RD. Winery a .Rodrigue-Molyneaux � Bent Creek Winery 9 Winery Big White House& �< �F el Sol Vineyard THE COURSE AT f Fenestra O P WENTE VINEYARDS �� White Crane Winery Winery Thomas Coyne Winery Wente Vineyards Restaurant&Vineyard Little Valley Winery Tasting Room John Christopher Cellars The Singing Winemaker at Tesla Vintners Tenuta Vineyards KALTHOFF COMMONS Winery- Winery- Scheduled Tasting Hours Open By Appointment Only VL1VVEfakN990KEVALLEYWINEC9UfrTKY Map provided by the Uvermore Valley Winegrowers Association-www.fivermorewine.com.925-447-Vine(9463) Tri-Valley Visitors Guide 2006-2007 29 www.trivalleycvb.com d � CD Cd J O � V o OLn 7 0 un N . o o . o O U O bA a V C: VI �3; o .� WTI v ° � � v O4-4 �.- L "O p 4-0 � tn is p cd . '' O`" ii •? sem.,+ -4 i4 t1 _ a n f <d' x s �9 j e 5oz—, ' .» R SEC. a T# POR. SEC' 70P.M.21,22 i � 15 6 5 nnr ao+W nex.y2 7 8 `= N.M. 27 � 28 � ]a.7Ac. i60.0ac, t e7.7_,3 31 32 NA4�o•w 20.0Ac. 2D.OAc. 04 SEE PAGE +� pa. h X99'IFiW •'i � CLQ] ll,�..r 2Ja.b2' ZINAc. ' 1g 25 2S.9PAc.n , .._._ : , — w 7 I 18 17 Na9•]r]J°W 72.07 74.]: A 9�A P 'A' 20 a0.0 At. I ?' 15 � e 16 �g • 25.JOAc. 29•ztsAc.?id mN MIN OF STME-V `� ON dwoffYGY.(n. R Ai3ABeae in � Mow 1 NOTE;TKS MAP WAS PREPAREO FOR ASSESSWt4T PURPOSES ONLY.NO I.IApIL(�1TY 6 ASSUMED t FOR THE AMURACY OF IL INFORMATION SIL 04INEATED HEREON.ASSESSOR'S PARGELS -� WAY NOT CQjX jPm W__Tti ORP�NANCES.SPOT u 5'fTE 1 t�3`o w t l 0 0 c, a z „ Octobev 2006 MAGAZINE spa 0 0 ly 1 Y 1 e^ r ` v ' 14 ........... A$4W °d s as m. f ' C . USS T O M S, T O ' N E S -E R V I C E S ` "As a . rule, I don't sing" praises. tc , 21 Okay, I'm s i nging. Dirk Welzien The DWG&Realty World Professional Brokers P. a ,9 6 . x ... 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Equi.l llousiug O'pport,�unity. 0 0 October 2006- Film Festival stir Annga1 CL�independent Film FCSttual columns fi I m festival 52 Wine Country 7 Ned Beatty - Lifetime Ar 56 Food Matters Achievement Award w 60 Valley Calendar 8 Meet the Judges } 9 Opening Night 10 Film Festival Highlights - P 12 Slate Award Nominees 13 Viewing Schedule 16 Animation 17 Bay Area Showcase 20 Documentary 21 Features 25 Mini Shorts 25 Music Videos 26 Short Films 34 Review:You Did What? - 37 Music Seminar 39 Horror Showcase �h ► 40 Spy Kids Movie & Co-Star 42 ReelKids - a ~ 44 Car Stories Awe ti 4 other . 48 ArtWalk 50 Teen Films The Independent Magazine 3 JIT^ ® • . 0 . 0 • 0 THE Innf -%end nt es le I ( � MAGAZINE ( h P.O.,Box 1198 Livermore,California 94551 —- Phone: (925)447-8700 Deadline for submitting information z t, is the first Thursday of each month. Publication is the last Thursday of each month. Information should be sent by mail to: �CJOq PO Box 1198,Livermore,CA 94551 r � d-bY 1 Fax(925)447-0212 or by _ e-mail:editmail@compuserve.com -- .PUBLISHERS Joan Kinney Seppala ' ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER \� David T.Lowell -� EDITOR/LAYOUT Janet Armantrout Lights! Camera! Action! CONTRIBUTING WRITERS .J� Tri-Valley Bank is rolling out the red carpet to Harry Stoll ^; host the 2006 Film Festival Tribute Night Ron McNicoll honoring actor,Ned Beatty with the Lifetime Bob Coomber Achievement Award. As a community bank Peter Brumm t` J serving Alameda, Contra Costa and contiguous counties,our cast supports local PHOTOGRAPHER . _ businesses and events like the Film Festival Doug Jorgensen because we place high value on being good ADVERTISING MANAGER ' civic partners. We specialize in providing Jessica Scherer star-quality financial services and banking solutions to ensure your banking needs BUSINESS MANAGER receive celebrity VIP priority. Michael Saunders - • ' - • - Our own opening night kicked off In 2005 ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES •• • _ when a prominent group of local business Tina Rose people, local residents and experienced Gloria White • • 00, local bankers raised the curtain to offer Jory Aquino -• • premier commercial financial services for Ron Dillon ••- • - individuals, businesses and non-profit • organizations. We maintain convenient AD DESIGNERS offices in San Ramon and Livermore. Ping Li • • �' ' �' ' ' Christina Yung • • • 0- Tri-Valley Bank believes our success comes from building strong relationships with our ACCOUNTING award-winning customers,, while creating Barbara Biernacki •- • • opportunities to reinvest both dollars and OFFICE ASSISTANT • • • •" •` resources back into the FDIC Q Marilyn Lane • • • • • communities we serve. EOR SALES ASSISTANT Georgia Johnson TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT V • Gale Marshall •,• CIRCULATION Steve Cleland Tin- .EY��11K • ' Michael Peterson V Annette Prink The community bank • _ Magazine published monthly by where service is individualized, Inland valley Publishing company flexible and responsive. '2250 First Street Livermore,California 94550 4 October 2006 STOCKTON CASTRO WALNUT VALLEY CREEK Palontares/ � N.Livermore `- SAN Eden Exit Ave.Exit Lupi o •� 0 ANCISCO Portola Ave. ' S`S�• `ay z _ LIVERMORE r' A. > a x n:�r Q Jac �y. arca D a J v �y t:�nc•r, , �. �y Lia �yCa`a01 N_ •` •? JLV` �• S rxQa occ o a 0 1' „ Chouinard Vineyard s Hidden StanteY �^, t'J` t}J�c�e is 13 Creek p d.,ioa �` �O�i, h ,� �I Ray Vineyard c :' o .. y t�:tel e v ♦5a� o �_ RadrigueM yneaur Tesla Rte°' :rt ffrl x Bernal ry 4 Bernal Ave. , u Exit r � l� �r ��j jEckertEstate w N Vit+' Mitchell ; opt ..eta o� m N - Katz �^ Little Valley Vineyard j m E «>1 . - d f�� ? John Christgopher Cellars �theq ai J F W W N w Elliston Vineyards Wetmore RedskyeatTslaVraners \ 3>uj Vit PLEASANTON Fenestra urri a's Well M et 9,3_ ' � Winery Ek� y ire-a /� estover Winery& ��, N aloins res Vineyard b "'— �` } � Wood Family SUNOL Thomas Coyne s Tenuta Winery gent Creek a White Crane e v r. s Little Valley Vineyard Livermore, Sunol & Pleasanton C SAN Vi JOSE Wine Valley Map h � � { I • r • NINETEEN YEARS REPRESENTING HOME BUYERS AND SELLERS • KELLER WILLIAMS. Tri - Valley Real [ CIFF Executive Committee Amy aschka G Donna Garrison i 'Dale Kaye FILM FE L Joe Madden 0.0 Wendy Madden Ann Montgomery Nancy Mueller Tim Neeley Leonard Pirkle Margaret Ross � Lynn Wallace Derek Zemrak /O� r.t ` r-" •• �' a_?, , Committee Chairs 4 i John Bogert 9 Daisy Borba Colleen Botelho t ,y Chad Caines Director John Badham holds his Marti Connell "� 2005 Golden Slate Award. Carol Dickinson Bernard Emerson � �id Photo-Ron Shelby CJ Goodman 7t Rosemary Hosterman i f Christopher Knightand Adrienne Pam Hundal Michelle Lacy t Curry will host'the events at the Rachael Lavezzo-Snedecor ' 2006 Film F25tIVdl �� Judy Lewis Terry Moody t } Nancy O'Neil Stephanie Petermeier * ' Shelley Schachter Shirley Sharpe Lindsay Summers Pirkle Daryllhomas the 8th Annual.California 2606 CIFF Hosts i Adrianne Curry `� Independent Film. Festival . Christopher Knight ,f Special Thanks To: City of Livermore The excitement continues with the commencement of the Janet Armantrout BoaventuradeCairesWinery _._- _._. ___.. _. 8th annual California Independent Film Festival. Over the last Jo Alice Canterbury year,the festival has continued to receive international recogni- COUIdB Entertainment Sondra Currie tion. The film submissions continue to come in from around Adrianne Curry the world. Dublin Public Library Luis Espinoza This event has once again taken a year to prepare.The coi Fantasy Sound Event Services munity should be proud of its volunteers who have been diligently Goal Line Productions Robert Gundrey reviewing films and doing their best to increase awareness and Akira Hatsusegawa knowledge of the festival and what it means to the-residents of John Meredith Donna Hayes Livermore and the surrounding areas. We strongly encourage Randy Holleschau you take part in this year's festival, see "independent films you Howard Hyman Buzz Lear may never get the chance to see anywhere else. Mickey Jonesy.% w• , A special word of thanks to Mayor Kamena for his continued Matt Kierscht Ak �, Alan Kroll C w ,' support, as well as all of our sponsors who have donated gener- Christopher Knight .) Alan J.Levi ' f• ously to this year's festival. Please visit them and let them know " Paul Linke i" how much you appreciate their efforts to bring an event such as Livermore Public Library >, j this to the Livermore Valley Wine region. Main Street Designs OrindaTheater l + , Once again,please bring your family,enjoy the weekend, see Ken Parks over 65 great films, hear the lectures and tell your friends to Runoff Records,Inc. Sapporo Short Film Festivalcome Out and join us for the 8th annual California Independent Joan&Lynn Seppala The stars came out for last ear's Film Festival. Thelndependent y The Steven Kent winery festival,including(top left), Tanner Insurance actor Mickey Jones,and Robert MarkTriska Hays(bottom left)2005"Comedy Leonard Pirkle Derek Zemrak Tim Neeley Toshiya Kubo Phil Viardo Spirit Award"recipient; (center left) Executive Director' President/Founder Director of Vine Cinema Livermore Mayor Marshall Kamena is Festival Events Wente Event Center pictured with Rita Moreno,winner of Wente Vineyards Estate Winery the Lifetime Achievement Award. Dina Wilson Zephyr Grill&Bar Photos David Blake California Independent Film Festival Association Our over 80 Dedicated Volunteers 6 ..October 2006, �3tir Annus j �► •i Ned Beatty to Receive 2006 • Lifetime Achievement Award independent Friday, October 27, VIP Reception at the FI<_m Pestwat_ Robert Livermore Community Center Followed by Red Carpet Showing of Deliverance at the Vine Cinema. Mayor " Actor Ned Beatty will receive The California Independent Welcomes - Film'{ Festival 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award on Fridy, Jt October 27th at a VIP reception to be held at The Robert Visitors to - i Livermore Community Center in Livermore. 4_� - . The VIP reception is from 5:30pm-7:30pm,which includes Livermore & ; :, til great food,wine from the Livermore Valley Wine Country and S a career highlight and tribute to Mr. Beatty. The reception Film Festival _ , will be followed by a red carpet showing of Deliverance at the Vine Cinema in downtown Livermore starting at 8 p.m Mr. Beatty will be on hand to conduct a special Q&A session prior Welcome to the 8th Annual to the screening.Tri-Valley Bank sponsors this event. California Independent Film Festival. Ned Beatty was born in Louisville,Kentucky July 6, 1937. The City of Livermore is proud to host His mother Margaret Fortney Beatty and father,Charles Wil- this entertaining event.The lush Iota- liam Beatty had survived the flood that spring,still the worst tion in the Livermore Wine Country flood to inundate Louisville. The family moved to higher allows film fans to enjoy the art of film- ground when Ned was nearly four years old.His mother told him years later that they had finally making and that ofwinemaking.There is moved from the rented house they fixed up after the flood to a home of their own;when,their no more beautiful venue for the festival rent was raised 50 cents a month to nearly$30. Outrageous. So Ned grew up in St.Matthew's, Jefferson County KY. He was educated in the county school system.They did their best. than California's First Wine Country. Singing was probably his favorite subject in school. He also sang in church,at weddings, in a Here you can blend the fantastic fra- quartet, (they sang for their supper),and the Louisville a cappella choir. He received a scholar- grance of wine aging in oak while quiz- ship to Transylvania University to sing in their excellent a cappella choir, under the direction zing the star or the producer about the of Harvey Davis, a gifted musician and composer of modern Liturgical music. Ned loved to intricacies of the film in the projector. sing in that choir, but wasn't particularly interested in attending classes in other subjects. So, Our screening committee has Transylvania did not extend his scholarship. assembled an incredible selection of (By the way, if you find yourself thinking about Vampires,try thinking, First College west of movies from around the world. The the Appalachians (woods), instead.) number of film submissions is at an all While studying to play Count Dracula,Ned auditioned for and was hired for a job singing in time high.There are films for all ages to the chorus of an outdoor pageant in Berea, Kentucky.The Show, "Wilderness Road," included acting, singing and dancing.There were more small parts than there were small actors, so Ned enjoy,including a special showing of was given a couple of lines to say, because he could speak loudly. His quick answer to how he "Spy Kids." got into acting has been, " I talked loud." There is also a special Bay Area Show- Now to make a long story longer, we use a film technique. Cut to card saying, "50 years case,where films by local filmmakers will later."Ned and his wife,Sandy are spending a lovely evening with their friends Larry and Myrna be featured.A new item has been added. Bastian. Myrna is one of the best hostesses ever. Larry is one of the best songwriters of our It is the first Teen Independent Film time,short list("Rodeo"and"Unanswered Prayers")0.K.?After dinner they start singing.This Festival for short features filmed locally. included quite a few Hymns. Again cut/to seagulls flying by/and Larry tells Ned that Ned is Here is a chance to see how creative our going to make a Gospel Album. young talent is. After 200 or so films and TV shows, Ned found himself back where he began his career as You are cordially invited to enjoy a performer in 1955. If you were to ask him how he feels about this turn of events; his answer would most likely be:.....What a Blessing.What a ride.Thank you, Larry a sense of discovery as you select the Ned Beatty spent the first two decades of his career as a stage actor.Since then,he has found films you want to see.Please try to view his niche as a supporting actor and has become one of those performers who seem to appear in as many films as possible and gain a every film that is released. In 1976, he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor real sense and understanding of the in Network for his portrayal of Arthur Jenson,owner of the fictional UTN network. Beatty also creative skill that goes into independent earned two Emmy nominations for his numerous television movie and guest appearances. He filmmaking. appeared on the critically acclaimed series Homicide and had a recurring role as Dan's dad on And,after you have voted for your the hit show Roseanne. favorites,take time to enjoy our many His big screen credits include Nashville(1975),All The President's Men (1976),Superman restaurants,shops and wineries. (1978), Superman II (1980) and The Big Easy (1987). In the 1990s, Beatty appeared in Hear Please come back often. My Song(1991)for which he received a Golden Globe nomination,A Prelude to a Kiss(1992), Rudy(1994), He Got Game (1998), Life (1999) and Cookie's Fortune (1999). Beatty recently won critical acclaim for his outstanding performance as groundskeeper Murph in Toni Gilroy's Marshall Kamena debut film Spring Forward(2000).The film also stars Liev Schreiber and is unique in that it was Mayor of Livermore shot in sequence over a one-year period. The Independent Magazine 7 Annua l Meet the Judges . independent ' FiLm FesbiuzL MAYOR MARSHALL KAMENA, Marshall Kamena was elected Mayor in November 2001. Prior to being elected Mayor,Marshall Kamena served KEN PARKS,Vice President,MTV.,Mr.Parks'is responsible for the on the Livermore City Council from 1976 to 1985,with negotiation of MTV's international co-productions,as well as domestic a rotation as Mayor in 1979—1980. In addition,Mayor Y development and on-air series and motions pictures,including"The Osbournes,' Kamena is a past President of the Livermore Chamber "Viva La Bam"and"Boiling Points" Prior to MTV, of Commerce,past President of the Livermore Lions D Mr.Parks was Vice President Business Affairs Club,and a past Vice-President of the Livermore Sister for Warner Bros where he negotiated deals City Committee. Marshall Kamena has also served as for the production of television shows such as Scoutmaster,Explorer Leader,and Founding Director of "Night Court""China Beach""Babylon 5° On the the Livermore Downtown Redevelopment Agency. , feature film side,Mr.Parks was responsible for negotiating music deals for "Batman Returns,' i" JOE MADDEN serves as President of Goal 'Unforgiven','"Natural Born Killers"and many Line Productions,a Pleasanton based production others.Prior to his 14ears with Warner Bros Mr. y T studio,where he has produced numerous com- Parks was employed at Universal Studios,ABC Y mercials and industrials for clients including AT&T, Television and Columbia Pictures. Microsoft,Ace Hardware and PeopleSoft. His com- pany also produces feature films. He is executive ANN MONTGOMERY,Ms.Montgomery is a native of New York with producer of the 2004 Academy AwardTm nominated feature film"The Cooler,"starring Alec Baldwin and over 10 years working as a professional actress in NYC.Theatrically trained at Mn William H.Macy,and the comedy-horror"Dead and SUNY and Cornell University. Ann was well x Breakfast,"which was filmed entirely on location known for her TV commercials and as spokes in Livermore. He currently is in pre-production model for the"I Love New York"Campaign. In on the feature drama"Touchback,"starring Brian 1993 Montgomery,Talent and Literary Agency Dennehy. Joe lives in Livermore with his wife and opened in the East Bay. A state licensed �r family. agency serving Northern California and LA for eight years and SAG/AFTRA franchised in PAUL LINKS,a professional actor for almost thirty years,he is best know San Francisco for three years.Presently Ann as Artie Grossman on the NBC-TV series CHiPs.Mr. owns East Bay Casting where she continues Linke's motion picture credits include Motel Hell, her dedication to talent,agents,directors and Parenthood,and K-PAX.An MFA graduate of the producers. University of Southern California,Mr.Linke co- founded the Garden Theatre Festival(LADCC Award) ALAN J.LEVI,Alan J.Levi's directing and and was a member of the Company Theatre.He producing of Television series spans over 35 years. was the founder and original artistic director of F, His credits include classic shows including"Six the Powerhouse Theatre in Santa Monica where he. Million Dollar Man""Bionic Woman""Incredible created his internationally acclaimed TIME FLIES Hulk';"Battlestar Galactica""Columbo""Magnum WHEN YOU'RE ALIVE,which was later filmed as an P.I." and modern television series including"ER" HBO Showcase special and nominated for a Cable i "Buffy The Vampire Slayer°"JAG"Dr.Vegas,and Ace Award.He was honored to direct NOBODY DON'T the hit series"Navy NCIS"starring Mark Harmon. LIKE YOGI starring Ben Gazzara,at Off-Broadway at the Lamb's Theatre on 44'h Street. Mr.Linke was co-author and director of SAVE IT FOR THE STAGE—The Life of Reilly starring comic legend Charles Nelson Reilly,nominated for a Drama Desk and Outer Critic's Circle Award.A published author,Mr.Linke lives in Los Angeles with his wife, SONDRA CURRIE,she starred in actress Christine Healy,and their four children. numerous features(among them,cult favorites "Jessie's Girls"and"Policewomen").She refers to MARGARET ROSS,was employed with Universal Studios for over 25 them as"slice and dice"films where she received years in the production research department where she provided research for such her"College education!!" She's consistently Blockbuster Films as,"Jaws""Jurassic Park "Back to the Future""Men In Black°"Erin worked,guest-starring on over 75 TV shows(most Brockovich°"Appolo 13';"Born on the 4'h of July just to name a few.She is the former recently ER,JAG,7 Heaven).Plus several Movies Vice President of the Premiere Patrons of the American Cinematheque.Ms.Ross is theatre every chance she gets the Week and,yes, e soap.She does co-owner of The Research Department,a freelance business providing production thts and has successfully research for story departments,production designers and commercials.Ms.Ross is a produced several plays including"The Chesterfield member of the Legiornate Del Cinema Muto(Silent Film Cinema)and a volunteer for Woman"She is a founding member of the Theatre Group at the Beverly Hills the Cannes Film Festival in 2002. Playhouse and is a member of the prestigious"Theatre West." 8 October2006 ' California Independent I KITCHEN&BA"I'H pDESIGN CENTER Film Festival Opening Night •Over 25 years experience •Certified designers 7 +�_ •Cabinetry has a lifetime warranty at Vine Cinema •No payments.No interest g ' for 6 months.Call for details An all star line-up will be attending the California Independent Film a Showroom to Festival Opening night on Wednesday, October 25th in downtown off brand name Livermore. kitchen cabinetry such as KraftMaid Opening Night Reception is sponsored by Fremont Bank Foundation snrw and Co Sponsor with the Livermore Downtown Association&Livermore p ►°C�pL6 "' ' ' ' r Chamber of Commerce Starting at 5:30pm there will be an opening night reception at the stttlmis ni s Zephyr Grill and Bar.At 7:30pm the action moves to the Vine Cinema starting with a screening of"The Powder Puff Principle."This comedy short is a modern day high school comedy with a retro feel. It tells the story of a vindic favorable negotiations tive high school principal who lacks principles. Many of the cast members will be there to conduct a Q&A. secure agreements i •� n, tight contracts �) f ti _ . Powder Puff principles include(from left)Art LeFleur,Clint Howard,director John Bur- gess,and Kevin Kilner. The short will be followed by a special screening of"You Did What?," a heartfelt comedy feature based on the true-life experiences of first time writer/director Jeff Morris. Many of the cast members will be attending for a special Q&A with the audience. Having grown up in Livermore and been married in Livermore, Director Jeff Morris says "You Did What? is my first feature film. Its budget was less than $190,000. 1 couldn't be more proud of the movie we made. We set out to make a feel-good comedy with heart. I 'r know that runs counter to much of independent cinema, but I think you will find the story Ore than funny and warm while it moves at a brisk pace. "The production values are high and for a romantic comedy has a nuanced style. In view 1 ing the film, you might be surprised by the caliber of known actors who were involved in a project with this small of a budget,"he adds. Playing the lead character is Ed Kerr,who is most famous for Sea Quest and as the star of David E. Kelly's TV series, Snoops. He currently stars in the WB's television show, What I' Like About You as Jennie Garth's love interest, and will be on NBC's new show Heist. Starring alongside him is Kathy Wagner (my wife and producing partner!), who was in --ov of 11 thin 5 al Estate the Universal release, How High with Redman and Method Man and played Susan Dey in the ABC movie of the week,The Partridge Family Movie. Also starring in the film are two hilarious actors, A.J. Buckley and Kelly Overton, who every time they are on screen bring a laugh. AJ currently stars on CSI New York as forensic expert Adam Ross. He is most known for his starring roles in films like Disturbing Behavior with Katie Holmes and the Sundance hit, Blue Car. Kelly,meanwhile,just got off Broadway in the production of,The Graduate playing Elaine : • with Jason Biggs and Kathleen Turner. She was also just seen in The Ring 2, with Naomi Watts. p Rounding out the cast are Ian Gotnez,Jason George, Susan Ruttan and Madison Mason. Ian Gomez stars in the ABC show,Jake In Progress as the best friend to John Stamos.Many seeme attismylie.q. of Ian's fans remember him as Javier in Felicity or in The Drew Carey Show as Drew's nem- esis, Larry Almada. Additionally, Ian starred in My Big Fat Greek Wedding with his real life vgtLEv over riEs wife Nia Vardalos. (continued on page 10) The Independent Magazine 9 You Did What? 2006 CALIFORNIA INDEPENDENT (continued from page 9) Jason George stars on the U PN show,Eve, FILM FESTIVALHIGH LIGHTS and acted along side Ice Cube in Barbershop. Susan Ruttan has 2 Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for her work on L.A. Law, but WEDNESDAY - OCTOBER 25TH just recently guest starred in an episode of Boston Legal with James Spader. OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION Finally, Madison-Mason is considered Presented by Fremont Bank Foundation&Co Sponsor with the one of today's finest character actors with a Livermore Downtown Association&Livermore Chamber of Commerce resume that reads like a novel. Movie parts VIP Reception at the Zephyr Grill&Bar(5:3OPM—7:OOPM) include, 'Red Dragon, Pearl Harbor and 13 1736 First Street,Livermore Days among many others. "To attract this level of acting talent for OPENING NIGHT MOVIES a first time director on such a low budget is at the Vine Cinema.1722 First Street,Livermore something I never could have thought pos sible,"according to Morris.' THE POWER PUFF PRINCIPLE a ' A vindictive high school principal named Richard Skelter (Clint Howard) goes on a witch-hunt to find a prankster.A detective (Richard Gilliland) introduces us to all the usual suspects,including the Art Teacher (Kevin Kilner),the Coach (Art LaFleur),and a host of colorful students. Linda Blair (The Exorcist)co-stars as the School Board President. Director and Cast Member will be in attendance for a Q&A! Total Running Time:22 minutes "YOU DID WHAT?" (Feature Film)starring A.J.Buckley(CSI NY),Ed Kerr(What I Like About You), Ian Gomez(My Big Fat Greek Wedding),Jason George(Sunset Beach),Kathy Wagner(Sisters),. Kelly Overton(Ring 2)and Susan Ruttan(LA Law) Former Livermore resident,Director Jeff Morris,will be coming home to screen his first feature film. "You Did What"?,which has been a film festival favorite across the US! "When I was 15 years old, I was hired to sell concessions and take tickets at the Vine Cinema -it was my very first job.Now,15 years later,my film will be playing in the very same:theater I once worked.Talk about a huge thrill." In the film,when his brother proposes to a girl after knowing her less than 24 hours,marriage phobic Charlie Porter finds himself stuck between a 2-carat rock and a hard place with his long-term girlfriend. �r Members of the cast will be on hand to take part in the opening night celebration! Total Running Time:87 minutes p Tickets:$25(VIP Reception and Movies)and$15(Movies Only) ' THURSDAY OCTOBER 26TH (10AM - 3PM) x F,� CELEBRITY POKER TOURNAMENT Lucky Buck Card Club,Livermore 1 OAM—3PM Celebrities hosted by Adrianne Curry&Christopher Knight,Players included: Ned Beatty,Clint Howard,Barry Williams,C.Thomas Howell Call the Lucky Buck Card Club 455-6144 to reserve your spot! CALIFORNIA INDEPENDENTFILM FESTIVAL IN ORINDA You Did What? Stars include(top to bot- Orinda Theater,2 Orinda Theater Square tom, left to right), A.J. Buckley, director Special program to be announced Jeff Morris,Edward Kerr,Ian Gomez,Kathy 6:30 p.m.Filmmaker Reception Wagner,Jason George,Kelly Overton,and Susan Ruttan. 10 October2006 FRIDAY OCTOBER 27TH 00AM - 3PM) SATURDAY OCTOBER 28TH (1 PM) FILM FESTIVAL PREVIEW EVENT SPY KIDS at Wente Event Center,5050 Arroyo Road,Livermore) at the Vine Cinema,1722 First Street,Livermore "Spy Kids"Presented by Daisy Borba Realtor at Keller Williams! Get a jump-start on the film festival.Here's a chance for you to see the short Come meet Daryl Sabara the star of"Spy Kids'!Movie starts at 1 PM films that have been nominated for the SLATE AWARDS before anyone else,as This will be a great family event!Kids don't forget to get well as trailers for the weekend films. Seethe films created in the"Iron Filmmaker" your free autograph from star Daryl Sabara after his Q&A! Contest and enjoy wines and a lunch at Wente. Call Daisy at 925-846-4663 x 205 for a Discount Tickets:$30(Movies and Lunch).$15 (Movies Only) Tickets:$10 NED BEATTY TRIBUTE Bank of Walnut Creek Presents Robert Livermore Community Center(5:30PM—7:30PM) 2006"SPIRIT AWARD"AND SLATE AWARDS RECIPIENTS celebrate the independent filmmaking at the Vine Cinema. Tri-Valley Bank presents an evening with Academy Award,Golden Globe and Emmy The Slate Awards recognizes directors, writers, producers, and actors for Award,nominated actor Ned Beatty.The program includes the presentation of the their contributions to independent filmmaking. A reception will be held prior to 2006 California Independent Film Festival"Lifetime Achievement"Award,tribute, the award ceremony., career film clips,food and wine,followed by a Q&A and screening of the classic film"Deliverance"at the Vine Cinema. This will be a night to remember! Tickets:$15 (Reception,Awards Show and"Fallen Angels"), $10(Awards and"Fallen Angels"Only) Tickets:$30(VIP Tribute and"Deliverance") $15("Deliverance" Only) SUNDAY OCTOBER 29TH (11AM - 6PM) SATURDAY OCTOBER 28TH 00AM - 5PM) MOVIES IN LIVERMORE VALLEY WINE COUNTRY! MOVIES IN LIVERMORE VALLEY WINE COUNTRY Enjoy independent features,shorts,mini-shorts and music Enjoy independent features,shorts,mini-shorts and music videos from around videos from around the world. the world.Go to caindiefest.com for detailed schedule. Go to www.caindiefest.com for detailed schedule. Time:11 AM—6PM Time:I OAM—5PM Locations include: Locations include: Wente Vineyards Estate Winery,5565 Tesla Road,Livermore Wente Vineyards Estate Winery,5565 Tesla Road,Livermore The Steven Kent Winery,5443 Tesla Road,Livermore The Steven Kent Winery,5443 Tesla Road,Livermore BoaVentura de Caires Winery,9309 Tesla Road,Livermore BoaVentura de Caires Winery,9309 Tesla Road,Livermore Vine Cinema,1722 First Street,Livermore Vine Cinema,1722 First Street,Livermore Don't Forgive the Don't Forget the BAY AREA SHOWCASE AT 11 AM! SAPPORO SHORT FILM FESTIVAL SHOWCASE Come see film talent in the Bay Area! Filmmakers from See the winners of the Sapporo Film Festival this past Livermore,Pleasanton,Dublin,Concord,Pleasant Hill September.I p.m.atThe Steven Kent Winery,5489 Tesla Road and from around the bay! Tickets:$15 day pass or$25 for a weekend pass(in advance) Also, don't miss the $20 day pass or$30 for a weekend pass(Day of Film Festival) 2006"SLATE AWARD"SHOWCASE AT 2PM, showing at Wente Vineyards Estate Winery! Tickets:$15 day pass or$25 for a weekend pass(in advance) Pacific Union GMAC Real Estate Presents $20 day pass or$30 for a weekend pass(Day of Film Festival) SPY KIDS at the Orinda Theater,2 Orinda Theater Square,Orinda Come meet Daryl Sabara the star of"Spy Kids"! Movie starts at 10AM To purchase tickets,call 925-552-7335 (REEL)or This will be a great family event! Kids don't www.LocalWineEvents.com or www.Caindiefest.com forget to get your free autograph from star Daryl Sabara after his Q&A! For complete event details,visit www.caindiefest.com Tickets:$10 Adults,$5.00 Children or stop by the Film Festival office located at Old Town Theater Mall,2222 Second Street Suite 5,Livermore. u .x W. 2006 Slate Award Nominees *BEST SHORT *BEST MUSIC VIDEO Old Man Music. . Take A Good Look-Alyson Dirty Mary Falling In -Jody Whitesides The Doers Of Coming Deeds If You Want It-Superstring � e . *BEST ACTOR *BEST STUDENT FILM Brett Simmons- Bon Appetit King's Echo Clint Howard -The Powder Puff Principle Bon Appetit Geoffery Lewis-Old Man Music The Powder Puff Principle Joe Cortese-Shut Up And Shoot *BEST DOCUMENTARY *BEST DIRECTOR Altered by Elvis Carl Thibault-The Garage Car Stories Silvio Pollio-Shut Up And Shoot Sierra Club Chronicles: ®r 6' Michael Merners-Trouble With Dee Dee The Day The Water-Died *BEST MINI-SHORT *BEST FOREIGN SHORT Ice Cream Binta and the Great Idea Premature Luck �t Twitch Santa Baby *BEST HORROR/THRILLER *BEST EDITING Alone Binta and the Great Idea °''" Devilwood Kings EchoF„ � •�.""°®" Morphin(e). Santa Baby *BEST ANIMATION *BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY kungfu Gecko The Garage ,r Space Craft#008 Devilwood The Tell Tale Heart . Lucky r *BEST ACTRESS *BEST SCORE Daniele Ferraro- Dirty Mary The Garage Jordan Todosey- Santa Baby Bon Appetit Kathy Wagner-You Did What? The Powder Puff Principle Lisa Ann Walter-Trouble With Dee Dee " *BEST SCREENPLAY *BEST,PICTURE Hangman Virus i The Garage A Good Soul Shut Up And Shoot Madame Alexandria Trouble With Dee Dee Dirty Implements You Did What? 12 Oct6ber2006 'stir Ann mal . independent FILM FCStIUJI- • diamonds"• • • PRODUCTION Film Viewing Wednesday October 25th ft&g Silver and Diamond Accented Contemporary Designs Elegantly Time 5•30PM-7:30PM Opening Night Reception Boxed. Zephyr Grill and Bar 1736 First Street.Livermore ure ' - a Blockbuster! 7:30FM-I O:OOPM Opening Night-Vine Cinema 1722 First Street,Livermore LANCE CAVALIERI Opening Night Feature and Short TRT � The Powder Puff Principle....22 You Did What?.................87 109 1102 E. STANLEY BLVD., LIVERMORE, CA 94550, 925.455.4222 Thursday October 26th Filmmaker Reception Orinda Theater 2 Orinda Theater Square,Orinda Orinda Theater SPA VIA TIONInc• 2CrindaTheater Square.Orinda superior performance California Independent Film Festival Showcase in Orinda Special Program to Be Announced! Our Idea of Business CCass You Will Not Want to Miss This Evening! - 7rue 24 Hour.Availability ,finest aircraft in the Bay .area Friday October 27th Personalized Customer Service Time Wente Event Center 5050 Arroyo Road 1 OAM-12:OOPM Trailer Review................ 30 JET' Iron Filmmaker Contest .... 60 800 g00D. JET' Dirty Mary.................... 19 8oO-466-3538 12:00-1:00 PM Lunch 1:00 PM-3:OOPM Bon Appetit.................. 25 1Nww.syaviation.com King's Echo................... 22 Lucky......................... 20 Santa Baby................... 20 196 Time 5:30PM-7:30PM Ned Beatty-Tribute& Reception,Robert Livermore Community Center 4444 East Avenue 8:OOPM-10:30PM "Deliverance"at Vine Cinema 1722 First Street,Livermore Deliverance and Q&A with Ned Beatty...................TRT 120 The Independent Magazine 13 g!g ' I E 'n NO O ON W m p 6 d E 'p V1 V1 In Vl LL tA C: t L ca Q)O m m 1 L 104. N 10 ar m tE 7E ta� HN 3 ¢ �v 3Q G ^ rn _ ro y-am, v i y C: U i cQ t-p m LL '6 m j„L VI C 22 Q w N a�+ Y Q 4' N C r 'i Q` mT of `C N A >,.a __ Qj N D E 0 76 O N U.- n O V a N U- L L L r N m ~ ^ 0 ko d N N O c0 O N 00 � r r E L L I L a u r u v E V M �� : 7p°C O 30w V4. 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E m O m.X a+ Nm co cc m co N Cu~ Q :° �m�Vx,n a`, CLn �o �o �o �o �o �o � i' Zvi m O N O m OLLL:3 w� � v`Oi 000000 GI In OO V t7 Ln H H Ln N N N N N N O V O A a a E ¢ _Ea Ea f- N H V The Independent Magazine 15 KUNGFU GECKO Producer&Director Nickson Fong Singapore Animation:Family 5 min GILBERT Enter a world of small creatures where micro- Producer&Director Patrick Kelly scopic legends begin.A tiny tale about an New York,NY unlikely band of accidental heroes,that,with Animation Short min 7sec little kungfu and some good luck,overcome Homosexual one-eyed chickens,drug crazed 10 year adversity and unexpectedly free a kingdom from the clutches of evil. a' olds,over sexed blobs,crooked cops,greedy children, Past Screenings:Launch of Movie° homeless worms,sentimental robots,andhigh Su nday,Oct.29,2pm-4pm,The Steven Kent Winery adventure.Living life a thousand times harder than you do, Gilbert makes no judgments and no excuses. ONNAZURI'OR MEN, World Premiere WOMEN,AND CAPITALISM Sunday, 29, m, Producer Joe Wu,Director Yusuke Murakami -- -- - The Steveenn Kent Winery inery New York,NY Animation 6 min 3 sec GOING HOME f ` "Onnazuri:orMen,Women,and Capitalism" Producer&Director Diana Rumjahn I is a story about a Japanese businessman San Francisco,CA who fishes for girls with Japanese Yen at the Animation:Family 4 min 25 sec seashore. 'Going Home'is an award winning powerful Past Screenings:First Run Film Festival and evocative film about 3 stuffed animals Sunday,Oct.29,2pm-4pm;The Steven Kent Winery without a home.A young frog named Charlie, and his 2 friends take us on an unforgettable SEASONS ` journey in finding the mother. Past Screenings:2nd Annual Los Angeles Producer&Director JimTavernetti International Children's Film, +i " Phoenix,AZ Animation 4 min 54 sec British Film Institute 50th London Film Festival A computer generated short animation about Sunday,Oct.29,2pm-4pm,The Steven Kent Winery "the cycles of seasons,relationships,and life. Seasons is dedicated to three close friends who passed away at a very young age.The story attempts to present these tragedies in a creative and positive way. Past Screenings:Rome International Film Festival,Holly Shorts,Short Film Festival Sunday,Oct.29,2pm-4pm,The Steven Kent Winery 1, • •-• • - • -� ;fw fi.� wiry, � � • -• • • y _• I Ill �., • •• �. • - -•• i ''.+; i � it� _ • • 111 0 .•. •• 1, © r 111 1• • •- .•• - -• ' 111 16 October2006 t SPACE CRAFT#008 ZOOM SUIT $PPCe C-f-A #®(fig Producer&Director JunHeonOh Producer&Director John Taddeo Newbury Park,CA Lighthouse Point FL, Animation 3 min 34 sec Animation:Sci-Fi Fantasy 9 min _ 'Soda and escape planet' When 12 year old Myles Mason Mistakes a top World Premiere secret alien battle suit for a Halloween costume Mln Woo lung@lun MOO,I ON Sunday,Oct.29,2pm-4pm, the worlds newest and youngest hero is born! The Steven Kent Winery Clothes make the man,or in this case,the boy in this superhero Cinderella story. Past Screenings:Danville International Children's THE TELLTALE HEART Film Festival Producer Raul Garcia,Manuel Sicilia, Sunday,Oct.29,2pm-4pm, Stephan Roelonts The Steven Kent Winery Director Raul Garcia ' Glendale,CA �-- Animation 9 min 45 sec "The Tell-Tale Heart"is a psycho- logical ender itofamad beat.narrator.A BAY AREA SHOWCASE murderer can not stop.hearing his victim's relentless heartbeat. Past Screenings:MIAMI SHORT FILMS FESTIVAL,Los Angeles Short Film Festival Sunday,Oct.29,2pm-4pm,The Steven Kent Winery BEAUTIFUL DAY TO THE OLD OLIVE Producer&Director Rey Godoy Hayward,CA. MILL Short Drama 14 min 36 sec oil A ma g Producer&Director Fred Bartolone On the one year anniversary of the death of his wife Reseda,CA and daughter,a former Marine's core values are put ±� Animation:Family min 59 sec to the test when he is offered.a'gift'from his best Lia and her friend Joey,the olive,dis, friend.But during this ordeal,the Marine and his cover a mysterious peacock.Through best friend have to come to terms with the fact that the holes of it's feathers,they findthis tragedy could have been avoided. something strange. World Premiere Past Screenings:Danville International Children's Film Festival Sunday,Oct.29,11 am-1 pm,The Steven Sunday,Oct.29,2pm-4pm,The Steven Kent Winery Kent Winery B O A V E N T U R A Ne& de *7wrwX4m C a i r e s W i n e r y 94wu4 w4w a od&Aeu "diace 1968 k Ao' Imagine your wedding in the elegant surroundings of a gorgeous winery in the breathtaking Livermore Valley. BoaWntura offers wedding guests a unique intimate experience 2190 First Street, Livermore CA 94550 set amongst our beautifully landscaped Gardens or Rustic Bani. (925) 455-1060 • Hours: Mon - Sat 9:30 - 5:30 The Garden areas can accommodate 150 guests,the Barn 100. We carry Name Brand Furniture Lines: Dates are still available for 2007.For booking information,call Pulaski•Hooker•Uttermost•Powell•Broyhill 925.606.9672 or visit www.boaventuravineyard.cotn •Bentwood•Lea•And Many More... 11so,available, Sports&=IToyrCollectibless ,°�3 „, BoaVentura Vineyards • 1• Tesla '••• Livermore94550 The Independent Magazine 17 BHUTAN:THE LAST SHANGRI-LA _ DISAPPEARING OVER NIGHT Producer&Director Connor Callaghan Producer&Director Jean-Pierre Duboucheron& •"� dy Livermore,CA Melinda Busch Documentary:36 min 16 sec Berkeley,CA. Prepare to enter a world unspoiled by mankind, where mountains are sacred,yaks represent wealth, Mini Short Drama/Women 9 min 56 sec and the national pastime is archery.Experience an Karen recounts a dream she had the previous unforgettable journey with 15 trekkers as they hike night to her husband while getting dressed up and down 50,000 vertical feet across 110 miles through the only remaining one morning.Her husband,still in bed,patiently listens as she describes her Himalayan Buddhist kingdom! World Premiere dream in detail,even the part in which she is subtly unfaithful to him. Sunday,Oct.29,2pm-4pm,BoaVentura de Caires Winery World Premiere Sunday,Oct.29,11 am-1 pm,BoaVentura de Caires Winery CARMA Producer&Director Ray Arthur Wang y:- Livermore,CA. DOUG:THE UNLIKELY HERO Feature Horror 81 min Producer&Director Connor Callaghan Carma is a chilling tale about a CAR haunted by a Livermore,CA. Psychopathic killer's dead MA. Short ComedyYouth/Teen 27 min 50 sec Past Screenings:Delray Beach Film Festival Sunday,Oct.29,11 am-1 pm, A high school student is caught t the pressures to bein'cool'and just fit in at his new BoaVentura de Caires Winery school.When a student named Vick tells Doug that he has the answers to make him COMMANDER BOB. cool,Doug is prepared to do anything. JI Producer&Director Deborah McQueen World Premiere Livermore,CA. Sunday,Oct.29,11 am-1 pm,Wente Vineyards Estate Winery Mini Short Comedy/Children 2 min Commander Bob is written and filmed by children a=a ages 7-10.Utilizing basic materials children had avail IN CASE OF EMERGENCY able within a studio. World Premiere Producer&Director Matt Chapman Sunday,Oct.29,11 am-1 pm, Hayward,CA. Wente Vineyards Estate Winery Mini Short Drama 7 min 24 sec Y '4y . In Case of Emergency is the tale of Joe.A re- DELTA BUTTER ,1, covering ex-smoker who is faced with the ad- " diction that he so badly want's to overcome. Producer&Director Linda RhodesHe soon finds nothing is really as it seems ' Pleasanton,CA. ,i" when his urges come to manifest. Music Video 5min g Original song and music video about waterskiing,wake Past Screenings:Twin Rivers Media Festival, ' Action On Film Festival boarding,and having fun on the California Delta. World Premiere Sunday,Oct.29,11 am-1 pm,The Steven Kent Winery Sunday,Oct.29,11 am-1 pm, »' Wente Vineyards Estate Winery love that feeling when I hand clients • • • the key to their new home', • • that it could also be the key to a whole new way of It's powerful." i a B • O . Age nt of For • -rful Changes, Calli Now. SueKabalinaoM For great changes,visit me online anytime (925)366.9981 ��suekabalin.com �; � r� GMBoegel@aol.com v 1983 Second Street; Livermore " 18 October 2006 MACARENA THE COUNTRY a, Producer&Director Deborah McQueen `=p Producer Garrett Braren,Director Brady Baltzore Livermore,CA .. San Francisco,CA. Music Video Comedy/Children 4 min Q' Mini Short 1 min 27 sec Livermore recently underwent a downtown "The Country"is a short animated film based make-over.Our students decided to dress on a poem by former U.S.Poet Laureate Billy like construction workers on the job who Collins.Designer/Director Brady Baltezore are finished with their work and decide to employed hand drawings,textiles,wood,and go out and dance the Macarena in front of the new work as a celebration of their efforts. paper composited into 2 and 3D environments to bring the poem to life. World Premiere Past Screenings:The Sundance Channel Sunday,Oct.29,11 am-1 pm,Wente Vineyards Estate Winery Sunday,Oct.29,11 am-1 pm,Wente Vineyards Estate Winery PLAGUES& PLEASURES ON THE HANNA PROJECT Producer&Director Jake Viramontez THE SALTON SEA Son Jose,CA. r Producer&Director Christopher Metzler Documentary Student 6 min 52 sec j &Jeff Springer-San Francisco,CA. Watch as a team of 22 travels deep into the Documentary Mature/Adult 1 hr 10 min 34 sec country of Cote d'Ivoire,West Africa to vac- Meet the friendly residents on the shores of cinate over 12,000 Africans of meningitis,and California's newest ecological time bomb. the impact they make. ' Hungarian Revolutionaries,Christian Nudists, R— SWorld Premiere Pop Stars,Land Sharks,Hard Drinkers,Empty Cities,Failed Resort Towns,Tons Sunday,Oct.29,11 am-1 pm,Wente Vineyards Estate Winery of Dead Fish,A Dying Cafe,&a Man Who Built a Mountain.Come enjoy the climate,comfort,and stench of the Salton SeaT Past Screenings:Central Florida Film Festival,Savannah Ocean Film Festival, American Conservation Film Festival THE SIX-IN-ONE-EAR Sunday,Oct.29,11 am-1 pm,The Steven Kent Winery CLEANER Producer&Director Deborah McQueen SOUNDS Livermore,CA. Producer Justin Cesarin,Director Nick Palmer Mini Short Comedy/Children 4 min Concord,CA. The Six-In-One-Ear-Cleaner is a spoof on subur- Short Drama/Teen 9 min 15 sec ban living.Larger cars that carry more people, A terrifying break-in forces an aging mother to larger homes,larger refrigerators and kitchens, face a shocking secret about her son. oil so why not larger cotton Swabs? World Premiere World Premiere Sunday,Oct.29,11 am-1 pm,Wente Sunday,Oct.29,11 am-1 pm,Wente Vineyards Estate Winery Vineyards Estate Winery i NOT U Sgietild_ Sneak i i % The Independent Magazine 19 UNDERCUT _ CAR STORIES Producer&Director Stephen Reedy _ Producer&Director Kari Nevil Dublin,CA. r r Menol Park,CA Short Teen/Youth 34 min 14 secDocumentary:Family 50 min A man's life hits rock bottom due to out-sourcing and - -- - f America's Passion for Cars-Classic To Finish first,one he'll do whatever it takes to gain revenge. must first finish. cq >. Past Screenings:2006 MTV MOVIE AWARDS,San Diego Past Screenings:Cinequest Film Festival ` Comic Con,Guerilla Cinema Saturday,October 28,3.30pm, Sunday,Oct.29,11 am-1 pm, Wente Vineyards Estate Winery Wente Vineyards Estate Winery HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT:TALES OF AN WHEN I WAS A BOY AMERICAN PREDATOR Producer&Director Gemma ProopsProducer David Basulto,Director Loren Basulto P San Francisco,CA. South Pasadena,CA Mini Short Gay/Lesbian 3 min 50 sec APs - , Documentary 92 min When dreams and reality meet,and the past A story about the victims affected by a pedophile who unfolds the present,what more can someone do except ask questions?Questions about , posed as a priest, sexuality,gender and acceptance.This is a pilot,teacher and doctor in order to capture his prey. sensual journey about the reality of existence. Word Premiere World Premiere Sunday,Oct.29,2:3OPM, Sunday,Oct.29,11 am-1 pm,The Steven Kent Winery BoaVentura de Caires Winery I DOCUMENTARY SIERRA CLUB CHRONICLES: The Day The Water Died ALTERED BY ELVISProducer Molly O'Brien&Adrienne Bramhall Producer Andy Bates,Joyce Bartok&Tiffany Bartok Director Richard Ray Perez_ Woodland Hills,CA Director Joyce Bartok&Tiffany Bartok Documentary: Environmental 28 min 30 sec elGen�i� New York,NY Sierra Club Chronicles is anew TV series p Documentary:Family 54 min capturing seven David vs.Goliath stories:the dramatic efforts of committed y iy Altered By Elvis is a documentary exploration of lives��L r _ individuals across the country working to protect the health of their environ- deeply and permanently affected by Elvis Presley. ment and communities.The series is hosted by Daryl Hannah. Past Screenings:American Cinematheque Past Screenings:LinkTV t Saturday,Oct.28,3pm, Saturday,Oct.28,4pm,BoaVentura de Caires Winery BoaVentura de Caires Winery E afforda c ) s r ,e"` ry TIMtoo , "67 =DAY AREA= S�AtRAMENYIh— SAN JOSE RANCHO CORDOVA �Tt! a LKVCARPET " ELK SAAa , PLEASANTON ` ar7c/ rn0rie . Since OPEN M-WF 8•0 ALMADEN Z9 8 T-TN 8.8 SAT 9-5 I CONCORD www.sgcarpet.com Where Quality is Affordable's ! TJ -0) ` 4 1T NJ FJ \ : J��iR' 22773 20 October 2006 r----- -- THE MALT SHOP THE GARAGE IN THE SKY Producer&Director Carl Thibault TBurbank,CA Producer TamaraKihs,DirectorVinceWil GAR-A.-AYFeature:Drama 1 hr 33 min . , .• a _�. L.. Gams A mechanic at his father's garage,Matt Fullerton, dreams about leaving his small town exis- tence and pursuing grander ambitions.But Vinny,a restaurant manager,and his fam- strong feelings about a new girlfriend and ily decide to take on the dismal statistics a deep bond with his parents and brother of the restaurant industry in an attempt prevent Matt's escape,despite pressure from to open a diner like no other. best friend Schultz to take off with him im- Past Screenings:Los Angeles International Short Film Festival, mediately.It's about the choices we make... Boston Film Festival,Houston Worldfest and the roads we take. Saturday,October 28,3pm,Wente Vineyards Estate Winery Past Screenings:Big Bear Lake International Film Festival Saturday,October 28,1:20pm,BoaVentura de Caires Winery FEATURES THE TROUBLE WITH DEE DEE Producer Bob Brown&Michael Meiners Director Michael Meiners I Chicago,11 a�0' Feature:Comedy 1 hr 21 min �? SHUT UP AND SHOOT! •CI An eccentric socialite with an knack for pulling off Producer&Director Silvio Pollio ` Los Angeles,CA&Canada hopelessly wild adventures struggles when she (� 1 Feature:Comedy 81 min finds herself disowned by her millionaire father and abandoned by her teenage son. A crooked Hollywood producer finally gets what's kill off his Past Screenings:Chicago International Film Festival coming to him when his plans r associates creates a surprising twist of events in Sunday,October 29,2pm,Vine Cinema J this wild west Hollywood tale. Past Screenings:Toronto International Film Festival Sunday,October 29,4pm,Vine Cinema LIVERMORE 1 CHAMBERaF —1 COMMERCE _�� Save drama LIVERMORE - - DOWNTOWN PIC. trkb.au Earc.prue for the .' • Presents The Opening Party of the California Independent Film We can get } Festival. No parking. No stress. No strain. Featuring Alternative Rock Band "Disposition Of." REGAL Cl N EMAS & IMAX Meet local filmmaker Jeff Dublin Morris before viewing Hacienda Crossings "You Did What?" As well as cast members who OVINETHEATRE iJ include Susan Rattan of"LA Downtown Livermore - Law" &"Gilmore Girls" 8� My Big Fat Ian Gomez of" x' Greek Wedding". o _ I Hosted by Zephyr Grill &Bar - ��,, ee�s October 25th • S:30 - 7 pm eels Call the Chamber at 447-i6o6 ~ or Livermore Downtown at For trip planning assistance call us at 455-7500 or visit us online at wheelsbus.com 373-1795 for ticket information. Call us today. Let us help you plan your trip! The Independent Magazine 21 i ctrtemporsrefire art ft craft Lb, ! t; cap�iene � rY an74 te Baselayer Apparel a M.WNINTVAhN(S'PIE) >� � r �� 2455 Railroad Aue., Livermore 1 • 'p 6� ffe/ ! RAILROAD CAFE BREAKFAST OR LUNCHl Ift IVERMORE 447-0235 _J . 1• • •• . • - • • • JE RATES U2124 FIRST STREET it.A! s Q LIVERMORE G w Y WAY ? 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We +. • �; continue to have an"amazing selection 4active,yet A so, • • •• • t stylish,on-the=�o shoes. The holidays are just aroun'dthe corner&we have solne.gl;eat heels to go with youryaity- • . � � clot4es!,As'always,lsomethingforeveryone! :• 1 21 S.Liyermor Ave Ste.4091 Livermore 925.606.5588' t 24 October2006 FALLEN ANGELS PREMATURE F. Producers:DerekZemrak, r Producer&Director Jemiscoe Chambers Leonard Pirkle,Robert Rowland, ....... Los Angeles,CA Myron St.John, -=p Ir Short.Comedy 10 min NOT ALL ANGELS ARE GUARDIANS Judy Lewis,CJ Goodman,Writer/ =1 A girl struggles with what is real and what is Director:Jeff Thomas 15 make believe when it comes to her relation- Dan ville,CA ship with a guy she really likes.She takes Feature:Suspense/Thriller 92 min situations and things he says and creates When a turn of the century prison is slated for demolition,a grisly discovery an ideal. is made deep beneath a cell block.As a CSI team arrives at the prison,an World Premiere evenmore disturbing discovery is made that will eventually release a legion Saturday,Oct.28,1 pm-3pm,The Steven Kent Winery of seven demons.Seven deadly sins Seven deadly demons Seven more deadly ways to die... TWITCH Northern California Premiere Saturday Oct.28th SIPM,Vine Cinema Producer Sean Warner,Director Leah Meyerhoff Brooklyn,NY Mini Short:Youth/Teen 10 min A young girl fears her mother's disability is contagious. YOU DID WHAT? TWITCH is Slamdance Grand Jury Prize winner and Producer&Director Jeff Morris - Student Academy Awards finalist. Redondo Beach,CA Past Screenings:Brooklyn Independent Cinema Series, Feature:Comedy 1 hr 27 min Newport Beach Film Festival,San Francisco Independent When his brother proposes to a girl Film Festival after knowing her less than 24 hours, _ Saturday,October 28,1 pm-3pm, marriage phobic Charlie Porter finds The Steven Kent Winery himself stuck between a 2 carat rock and a hard place with his long-term girlfriend. Past Screenings:The Australian International Film Festival, VERONICA Rhode Island International Film Festival Producer&DirectorJose Asuncion Los Angeles,CA Mini Short.Horror 6 min An electrophobe faces her worst fear on the MINI SHORTS hottest night the summer. Past Screenings: USC Screening Saturday,October 28,1 Oam-12pm, DEAR MISTER PRESIDENT Boaventura de Caires Winery Producer&Director Gabriel Dayan&Stephen Rue Kenner,LA Mini Short:Family 5 min 59 sec WISECRACKS A New Orleans child victim of Hurricane Katrina - Producer&Director Renee Michaels relives her experience as she writes President Bush DO IT! Sacramento,CA Worldquestioningeier her future. Mini Short.Comedy 8 min World Premiere ,f Busy,bubbly and brash,a book club is scheduled to Saturday,October 28,1 pm-3pm, meet.Only problem is,they don't have time to buy the The Steven Kent Winery book let alone read it.Sound familiar? World Premiere yr_ Saturday,October 28,1 pm-3pm, " ICE CREAM The Steven Kent Winery Producer&Director Alexandra Fisher q Santa Monica,CA Mini Short:Family 5 min 58 sec MUSIC VIDEOS o W Zyla is a six-year old girl who always obeys her austere mother.But there are some things she simply can't resist and that could get her into a lot of trouble... FALLING IN World Premiere Saturday,October 28,1 pm-3pm,The Steven Kent Winery Producer&Director Byron Turk Valencia,CA �j Music Video 3 min 17 sec INTERVIEW WITH THE a Music video for the song'Fall- ZOMBIE ingln'JodyWhitesides. Producer George Riddell,Director John World Premiere Vechey Saturday,Oct.28,3pm-5pm,The Steven Kent Winery Seattle,WA Short:Horror Comedy 10 min Never forget:Zombies are people too.In IF YOU WANT IT this comedic short,a newspaper reporter in Producer Brenda Taylor,Director Tod Campbell search of a story meets the perfect interviewee.But he quickly learns that Dallas,TX being a member of the eternally undead is nowhere near as glamorous as Music Video"Superstring"3 min 43 sec it may seem. _ Caught within the confines of the mind,"If You Want It" Past Screenings:Bumbershoot/1 Reel Film Festival �®tel paints the portrait of a girl who has imprisoned her own Saturday,October 28,1 pm-3pm,The Steven Kent Winery Gb hopes,her own dreams,within a cell of the mind. Past Screenings:Superstring CD Release Party Saturday,Oct.28,3pm-5pm, The Steven Kent Winery The Independent Magazine 25 TAKE A GOOD LOOK BON APPETIT Producer Lucas Solomon,Alyson Garrett,Director Producer Director Justin Lutsky Ryan Gruzen Orange,CA -' Los Angeles,CA Short: Comedy • Music Video 3 min 34 sec With choice wine and fine dining,Sherman and the rest Alyson's'Take A Good Look,set to beats cre- of this five-star wait staff have to be ready for any- - ' ated by Grammy Award-Winning producer Hex thing.However,nothing could have prepared them for Hector,takes the audience on a fun-filled musical journey to find happiness tonight's special order: and love. 2 million dollars for the life of one very special guest. World Premiere Dragged into the middle of a sniper's hostage scenario, Saturday,Oct.28,3pm-5pm,The Steven Kent Winery Sherman'and his gang of eclectic,table-waiting,aspiring action-film actors discover that tonight's main course...is danger! World Premiere _ TWENTY Friday,October 27,1 pm-3pm,Wente Vineyards Event Center Producer&Director Sue Turner-Cray Saturday,October 28,1 pm-3pm,Wente Vineyards Estate Winery Los Angeles,CA Music Video "Robert Cray"7 min DADA J 'Twenty'is a story about a soldier serving in the I Iraq war.The story follows what seems like his e o.o Producer&Director Sabina Shomdasani I return to America,though as the story unfolds Orange,Co. it reveals a very different conclusion. !4�4 Short:Family/Comedy 18 min World Premiere The traditional Indian Dada Ji and his westernized Saturday,Oct.28,3pm-5pm,The Steven Kent Winery _ daughter must find some common ground if they're to live under one room.Whoever said family was a cup of tea? WH ITE TRASH • A Past Screenings:Danville International Children's Film t iProducer Rebbecoh Donaghe,Directorloson Wisch Festival Glendale,CA Saturday,October 28,1 Oam-12pm,The Steven Kent Winery • Music Video "Brides of Destruction"3 min 58 sec A music video from the band Brides of Destruction,titled ;'DAMMI I L LA 'White Trash'Director Jason Wisch took the band to a storage facility for trailers being repaired and combined that footage with s Producer& Director Matteo Servente actual'Real People'from several trailer parks in Riverside,California. Torino,Italy Past Screenings:MTV2 Internet Short:Drama 20 min 20 sec Saturday,Oct.28,3pm-5pm,The Steven Kent Winery A priest succumbs to the urge to recount the story of an inexplicable friendship to a blocked a, composer who visits his church every day. YEP - Past Screenings:FAIF International Film Festival, Producer Des Escober&Isaac Klotz,Director Dubrovnik International Film Festival Isaac Klotz Saturday,October 28,10am-12pm,Wente Vineyards Estate Winery Santa Monica,CA _ Music Video 3 min 59 sec Check out this fresh new music video from DEVI LWOOD --m .--- - the west coast!Beats and rhymes,dance Producer&Director Sacha Bennett and graffiti art combine to form'Powerful, London,United Kingdom Short:Horror/Drama 11 min 30 sec In a lawless outpost in 17th Century England,the people have ceased to be God-fearing but learn to fear the Devil instead. Past Screenings:Roindonce Film Festival Saturday,October 28,10am-12pm, SHORT FILMS BoaVentura de Caires Winery DIRTY MARY ALONE Producer Alicia Ferraro,Doniele Ferraro,Dave Rosen, Producer Lyrica Glory,Director Kenneth Selko Mike Draghi,Stuart Rogers,Director Stuart Rogers Sherman Oaks,CA _ Burbank,CA Short:Horror 19 min 26 sec i. ?' Short: Romantic Comedy 19 min Alone for the weekend in a sorority house,a Based on the true story...of a dirty,dirty,girl! young coed battles her deepest fears and para World Premiere noia.But when an unexpected visitor appears, Friday,October 27,11.30am, the danger suddenly becomes shockingly real. Wente Vineyards Event Center Past Screenings:Night Gallery Film Festival,Shriekfest Film Festival Saturday,October 28,1 pm-3pm, Saturday,October 28,10am-12pm,BoaVentura de Caires Winery Wente,Vineyards Estate Winery #�,�0,Q BINTA AND THE GREAT IDEA ED I HIDE Producer Manuel Garcia&Luis Monso Producer Lesley Chilcott&Pierre Rouger Director Javier Fesser Director Len Peltier ;. Madrid,Spain Malibu,CA Short:Family 30 min Short: Drama 28 min 30 sec Binta's father has an idea.But he doesn't know Eddie has had a fight with his girl.He heads to if it is or not a good idea. the woods to escape the conflict.But.can he Post Screenings:Danville International Children's Film Festival, get away when the conflict is within? Sapporo Short Film Festival, World Premiere Saturday,Oct.28,10am-12pm,Wente Vineyards Estate Winery Saturday,October 28,1 Oam-12pm,The Steven Kent Winery 26 October 2006 apr. corn Ak M �o Ci2i2 �,� sc ALAI:N PINFL 925.292.0437 Homes@JoAnnLuisi.com www.JoAnnLuisi.com LIVERMORE OFFICE 187 South J Street 1 925.583.1111 • • FARM • MPKIN 4 r Chris & Lori Tarantino1 Old West Tb�n-Teepees-Farm Animals -Fort Maze-Corn Maze-Co red Wagon-Decorations Birthday Parties&Group Tours Call 925-447-0794 r TARANTNO carantino.com 'y - (925) 918-2662 t.. 925-455-6623 —Joansfarm-com '= p • - • • . - f ' f' uo j Lerner Eye Center - www.lernere ecenteram Near icer � Modern technology with `The doctor that old-fashioned care physicians choose for i their own eye care" LL, Concord Pittsburg San Ramon HILARY JON LERNER, M.D. 925-685-1130 925-432-9300 925-820-9600 Eye Physician & Surgeon Celebrity Poker OR qSTER FO ,, Tournament Comes Cate, To Livermore Bubble Teas Pearl Drinks' Gelato Ice-Cream Gelato (Italian) Ice Cream er ti Poker tournaments have become a staple Smoothies & Snow Bubbles Parini Sandwiches ., of many casinos and card rooms across the e s . United States. Something that hasn't been as prevalent, however, is a charity event that Dell" Sandwiches cen can draw big names and provide a way to raise - Salads & Samosas a =' funds for very deserving causes. Sometimes, these charitable events are held in Las Vegas , Carnival -Style Funnel Cakes ` or Los Angeles. However, it is not as often # Now Serving Broaster Chicken that such tournaments are held outside of those poker hotbeds. One such tournament FREE Wireless*Internet Access / / Drink, set for October 26th in Livermore will help Second FREE. support the California Independent Film 1550 Railroad Ave, LivermoreFestival. (in the Dollar ree ,,, America's Next Top Model Winner,Adri- V/SA' TOTALORDER. anne Curry, and actor, Christopher Knight, Bring in Coupon.EXP 1/07 will host the First Annual California Indepen- dent54434 -268dentFilm Festival Celebrity Poker.Tourna- ment at the Lucky Buck Card Club, located at 1620 Railroad Avenue in Livermore. AL �htnA �SAi'bQtl The California Independent Film Festival oiborganizers have tapped into their celebrity • al Restaurant contacts to draw in some high profile names Mandarin&Szechwan Cuisine for the poker tournament. They include ac- www.usayi.com - �' "'" HOURS: tors Ned Beatty and Clint Howard. Other MON-CLOSED SAT:noon-9:30pm Celebrities, Art'LeFleur (Field of Dreams), TUE-THUR:11 am-9pm SUN:noon-9pm Barry Williams (The Brady Bunch), C. FRI:11 am-9:30pm Thomas Howell (ET, The Outsiders), will F1 12ndependent FREE DELIVERY FROM 11:30 AM-9:00 PM m Fc9twoL join Beatty and Howard as they square off 1536 RAILROAD AVENUE, LIVERMORE against the participants. The First Annual (NEXTTOTHE DOLLARTREE) Celebrity Poker Tournament is anticipated TEL: (925)449-6315 to be one of the most fun filled events of the five-day film festival. "The Celebrity Poker Tournament is a great addition to this years California Independent Film Festival," states Derek Zemrak, Founder of the Film Festival, now CUSTOM in its 8th year. "We see several celebrity poker shows on,TV today, such as Bravo's . REPAIRS Celebrity Poker Showdown. It's great to RESTORATIONS have such a tournament at the film festival." Z WHOLESALE emrak adds, poker continues to show that ' • it can be used for philanthropically.purposes. is good to see one of these events being held outside of Los Angeles or Las Vegas. The First Annual California Independent Film / Festival Celebrity Poker Tournament should be well attended, if only for the celebrity sightings. It should also provide an excellent. Oz .i ) poker challenge for anyone who enjoys play- ing and takes part. Li DI For more information on the charitable •NDS event or the California Independent Film FINE JEWELRY & DIAM Festival, visit www.CalndieFest.com. To 1358 Railroad sign up for the poker tournament please (925) 443-1186 call the Lucky Buck Card Club (925) 455-6144. Space is limited, so call today. 28 October 2006 ERIE ROAD ��?OM TIley Producer&Director Michael Weinstein Fresh Meadows,NV Short:Horror 23 min . (s The mother of an Erie University Freshman named Chris Graven was murdered one !� year ago.His father is a pathologist in the morgue who's been analyzing the numerous ?` amounts of murders in the town.His mother's death has been extremely difficult for 1 Chris and all he wants to do is find out who's responsible.On his way to a therapy ses ;�� Sion,he gets into a near accident with a girl who he finds very attractive.After agreeing to go on a date that night,he finds himself in an unusual home that might give him all the answers. Past Screenings:Adelphi University 2006 Spring Film&Video Festival Saturday,October 28,10am-12pm,BoaVentura de Caires WineryN ' HUNTED k Producer&Director Moe Charif Miami Beach,FL. Lj Short:Thriller 20 min 49 sec Emily wakes up to find herself in the middle of nowhere.Chased by a THE NP group of complete lunatics;and for reasons beyond her comprehension, instincts kick in as she tries to make sense of the mess she has stumbled into whilst surviving at the sameC � time. World Premiere Saturday,October 28,10am-12pm,BoaVentura de Caires Winery has an experienced & KING-S KING'S ECHO compassionate staff r n 1 o Producer Joseph B.Michael&Christopher T.Sadler Director Haim Silberstein that offers in-home "I Los Angeles,CA 1l, ' Short:Thriller 22 min care t® best suit King-once a promising Harvard law student-now serves drinks at a gentlemen's alumni club.A broken man,he recounts his tragic story to one of the your needs. club's patrons,Mr.Hawkins(John Savage).Jack tells of a sexy femme fatale,who seduced him into a life of petty crime,merely to satisfy her sadistic lusts.His story falls apart when she enters the club-catching him by surprise. C�) Companionship World Premiere Friday,October 27,.fpm-3pm,Wente Vineyards Event Center c� H ) & Live-in Saturday,October 28,1 pm-3pmHourly,Wente Vineyards Estate Winery LUCKY d Personal Care v Producer Bex Hopkins,Director Avie Luthra London,UK. n Medication Monitoring f1 Short:Family/Drama 20 min LUCKY is a South African AIDS orphan who learns about life through an unlikely c� Meal Preparation bond with a racist Indian woman. Past Screenings:Cracow Film Festival,Aspen Shorts Fest Friday,October 27,1 pm-3pm, Errands & Wente Vineyards Event Center Saturday,October 28,10am-12pm, Transportation Wente Vineyards Estate Winery C> Light Housekeeping Q Dementia Care Anne-Marie Moreland Q Hospice Care Re/Max Executive Individual personal service "I'm the realtor for you." and pricing plans available. (925) 640-9129 Visit my website to look up properties, M � calculate your mortgage payments, seeIT 0 ED ms m what your home is worth information on ' school and communities, and more! ®, ® .. • • • TIT rs- The Independent Magazine 29 MORPHIN(E) ; 'THE DOERS OF COMING ProducerJomie Millhoff,Director Alex Ranarivelo Santa Monica,CA DEEDS Short:Drama/Thriller 19 min 40 sec Producer&Director Jerry Buteyn " Ex-con Jack Norris wakes up in a hospital after West Hills,CA a car accident. As he goes in and out of con s Short:Drama 23 min E sciousness,he thinks he sees a nurse euthanize +�d another patient.When he tells the doctors During World War II,a group of friends,all -= what happened,no one believes him. members of the Hitler Youth,come across a Past Screenings:Action On Film International Film Festival,Newport Beach Film Jewish family fleeing from.Hitler's'final solution'Their friendship will be put Festival,Malibu Film Festival to the test when duty and honor begin to conflict. Saturday,October 28,1 0am-1 2pm,BoaVentura de Caires Winery World Premiere Saturday,October 28,10am-12pm,The Steven Kent Winery OLD MAN MUSIC Producer Dustin Harris&Scott Slone THE POWDER PUFF Director Scott Slone PRINCIPLE Alhambra CA Producer Brett H 9� enenber David Short: Drama 22 min Harb John Burgess, g s, The story of an old man who loses the last Max Gutierrez,Director John thing he has to live for...His music. Burgess-Los Angeles,CA Past Screenings:2006 Los Angeles International Short.Comedy 22 min Short Film Festival,2006 Rebel Planet Film Festival,2006 Beverly Hills Film Festival A vindictive high school principal named Richard Skelter(Clint Howard)goes Saturday,October 28,10am-12pm,The Steven Kent Winery on witch hunt to find a prankster.A detective(Richard Gilliland)introduces us to all the usual suspects,including the Art Teacher(Kevin Kilner),the Coach PLACEBO (Art LaFleur),and a host of colorful students.Linda Blair(The Exorcist)co-stars Producer Joshua Brentano,Director Michael Steinbach as the School Board President. Sherman Oaks,CA Past Screenings:Private Screening in Los Angeles Short.Thriller 13 min 45 sec Wednesday,October 25,7:30pm-10pm,Vine Cinema A diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic stops taking his Saturday,October 28,1 pm-3pm,Wente Vineyards Estate Winery medication and struggles to decipher reality from delusion. THE SHOWDOWN Past Screenings:Boston International Film Festival.Newport Beach Producer Antony Sestito,Fulvio Sestito, Film festival John Mozzarella, Saturday,October 28,1 pm-3pm, Troy Combs,Director Fulvio Sestito& Wente Vineyards Estate Winery Antony Sestito Hollywood,CA SANTA BABY Short.Drama 17 min 15 sec Producer Robert Richardson,Director David A confrontation between a batter and a pitcher in a high-stakes baseball Widdicombe game,juxtaposed against a deadly duel between two gunslingers in the old Toronto,Canada west.. Short:Comedy 19 min 55 sec Past Screenings:2006 Rome Independent Film Festival,2006 Omaha Film Festival Ten-year-old Amelia has fallen in love for the Saturday,October 28,1 pm-3pm,BoaVentura de Caires Winery first time.The object of her affection?A depart- ment store Santa Claus.Even when she learns VALOUR Santa's just a guy named Bob,Amelia doesn't care-she's so in love.But when Producer Loretta Kerins&John Vaughan Santa doesn't return her affections Amelia decides to takes action., Director John Vaughan Past Screenings:Savannah Film Festival,San Diego Film'FestivalIreland Friday,October 27,1 pm-3pm,Wente Vineyards Event Center Short: Drama 17 min 30 sec Saturday,October 28,10am-12pm,Wente Vineyards Estate Winery The Sole Survivor of a failed Allied Attack during F World War 1 tells his story but will his commanding officer believe this tale of Valour? THE AXE MAN Past Screenings:SnowyFest International Film Festival, Producer&Director Wade BalanceWinnipeg International Film Festival,Eugene Film Smyrna,GA Festival Short:Drama 14 min 55 sec When a company needs to lay people off,they Saturday,October 28,10am-12pm,Wente call Derek Dean.At a Vineyards Estate Winery thousand dollars an hour,he's the best'Axe Man'in the business.But, sometimes being the best comes with a price. Past Screenings:Los Angeles Short Film Festival,DaVinci Film and Video Festival,Indiefest Chicago Saturday,October 28,10am-12pm,The Steven Kent Winery 4' THE COUNTER v Producer Lauren Wagner&Mark Austin, a Director Lauren Wagner w Los Angeles,CA Short:Drama 12 min 56 sec / Sometimes standing up for what's right means sitting"down;. independent Past Screenings:Big Bear Lake International Film FILM FeSbiuzL Festival, Rochester Int'l Film Festival,Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival Saturday,October 28,10am-12pm, The Steven Kent Winery 30 October 2006 " • Unique Shops Outdoor Dining Hometown Atmosphere i 1. Alexander's Main 11. Town Center Books Street Gallery 555 Main Street 610 Main Street d 12. Hope Hospice N G 2. SF Cigar Co. 400 Main Street 8 4eceis N N 4473 Railroad Avenue 0 13. Jeweler's Gallery 3. The Berry Patch 614 Main Street • d. 63 W.Angela Street 14. Studio 7 Fine Arts 18 to 4. Clover Creek 77 W.Angela Street �,a 9 670 Main Street 15. Ed Antenucci, 11 4 5. Fontina Bistro United CA Brokers 16 i 131 �e 349 Main Street 351 St.Mary Street 9 v'o 5 NL�nSueel7 \ 6. Gay 90's 16. MD Spa 12 'A 288 Main Street 531 Main Street 0 6 y 14oad 7. Graham Hitch 17. Aloha Island Trading 0' 70 g2>>R Mortuary 410 Main Street 3 4167 First Street 2 18. Pleasanton 7, 8. Pasta Trattoria Downtown Assoc. First Street 405 Main Street 830 Main Street 9. Mesa Trading ..H ,a;�nat.„....... .......,.re �.asr:,,+;... .,>.,;....;. ,,;..: .....,.:„,... _-. 608 Main Street THE CITY OF SHOPPING & DINING GUIDE 10. Panda — t U9!11; 30 Angela Street pL£ASANTON, www.pleasantondowntown.net 1 CONSTRUCTION B *1d ul Your • Thinking of paying cash for your new construction, remodel or reconstruction' Think again! i We can help you maximize your resources. 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"Expected results when completing camp results may vary." �` 3-5%reduction in body tat,5-12 lbs weight loss,25%improvement 727 in strength,better relaxation,1-3 inch decrease in the midsection, 100%gain in self confidence,and morel �, • .„ . �— zZXV, 10MAIZZy ✓- 1 T CROORYWIV Y Call (925) 518.3434 or log on 7 u* �4 k You Did Khat? Offers" Hope, Romance and. Laughs The story is simple and clean and neatly ties togetber sub-plots ori Ashley's ex-boyfriend and ber predilection for toilet wipesw' er paper. By Patricia Koning comes through with the perfect gift, or so it The film has some good laughs,including You Did.What?, a romantic comedy by appears.Charlie actually forgot his mother's a sequence on the "Dr. Bob" show where writer, director, and producer Jeff Morris, birthday but was saved by Ashley, who had Ashley tries to get Charlie to overcome his will be screened at the California Indepen- the gift tucked away in her purse. fear:of the "M-word." A skeleton in Day's dent Film Festival on Wednesday Oct. 25 Early in the film, Greg rocks Charlie's closet is handled deftly and shows Greg's at 7:30 p.m.at the Vine Cinema.While this world by proposing to Day,a girl he's known integrity and Charlie's callousness.You Did effort is Morris' first feature-length film,his for less than 24 hours.Charlie is shocked by What? will appeal to the true romantic be- previous work includes two award-winning Greg's impetuousness but Ashley sees only cause it is heartfelt and remains true to itself. short films, The Slow and'the Cautious and romance in his action. One wonders why Ashley doesn't walk out The Honor System. Suddenly, Charlie finds himself ."stuck on Charlie sooner,but through the course of You Did What?•is the story of Charlie(Ed between a 2 carat rock and a hard place,".as the�film it becomes obvious he truly loves her Kerr), a commitment-,phobic man, and his the film's press materials say. The film,falls but'is trapped by his own neurosis. ready-for-marriage girlfriend,Ashley(Kathy into some predictable territory at this point. Charlie also loves his brother'and be- Wagner). Integral to the story of Charlie and After Ashley gets mad at him for his negative comes a better person when he allows Ashley is the story of Charlie and his younger reaction to Greg's news,Charlie presents her himself to learn from Greg's lack of inhibi- _ brother, Greg (Aj. Buckley). with a little black box containing a pair of tion. Ashley's father cares deeply for her, On the onset, it appears that Greg is , diamond earrings.Whoops—the too-sweet- although his primary means of expressing the slacker, impulsive younger sibling while to-be-true Ashley was expecti'ng,a ring. his dove is through guerrilla tactics on the Charlie is the responsible, practical older Another stereotype is Ashley's retired men in her life. Even Charlie's mom gets to brother. For their mother's birthday, Greg's Marine Corp father, played by Madison show how much she cares by slapping some gift is a piece of frightening performance art Mason, who threatens Charlie with death sense into him and saying what everyone in o- that nearly gets him ejected from the res- if he-do- and demands a troop the�`audience is probably thinking about his taurant where they are celebrating. Charlie of little GIs. (continued on page.36) 34 October2006 I Horizons East Equestrian Center �s &sre EY�tS offers: AIDING SCHOOL for beginners ��, r • thru advanced.Adults&children. F-> DoUBLETREE Lessons by the hour or monthly THE CLUB HOTEL° training programs,Indoor/outdoor, , LIVERMORE facilities.Showing-Sales-Leasing. ; FLO Y V ERHOUSE •Full Service Hotel •Deluxe Guest Rooms •Close to Wineries and Downtown (925)960-9696 ; •Large Banquet Facility(up to 350 people) showstables.com BY APPOINTMENT i " Call for more details. 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Despite relying on stereotypes and over- The supporting cast includes Susan familiar material, You Did What? moves Ruttan of LA Law fame as Charlie's hippie along briskly and is well-acted by the experi- mom; Madison Mason, who played major enced cast.The story is simple and clean and parts in Collateral Damage, Pearl Harbor, Page Mill Winery neatly ties together sub-plots on Ashley's and Thirteen Days, as Ashley's father; and CELEBRATE.OUR 30TH ex-boyfriend and her predilection for toilet Jason George,star of UPN's Eve,as Charlie's i wipes over paper. well-meaning best friend. ANNIVERSARY WITH USI 9 The back story to the film is another The film has picked up several honors •New Romantic Tasting Room interesting story.Ashley is played by televi- on the independent film festival circuit. At •Open Weekends 11 -4:30 sion actress Kathy Wagner, Morris' real-life its debut at the Tiburon Independent Film Award Winning Artisan Wines wife, and the screenplay is largely based on Festival, Morris earned the Orson,Welles 1960 S. Livermore (925) 456-7676 their courtship. Award for Outstanding Achievement by a "It's no secret that my friends and family First Time Filmmaker in Their Debut Fea- WWW.PAGEMILLWINERY.COM l knew I was slightly marriage-phobic,"recalls ture Film. Morris. "And yes, I even had trouble saying Morris and Wagner did end up,getting that word." married in real life and he's now fending off Tired of being rejected for his lack of questions about the "B" (as in baby) word. production experience, Morris took mat- Perhaps Morris' next film will star some ters into his own hands and produced and little GIs. directed You Did What?himself on a budget of$900,000.The financing came mostly from ' • investors local to his hometown of Redondo Beach, CA,where he shot the entire film in Former Livermore resident,Director Jeff 1 20 days. Morris,says, "When I was 15 years old, I was Morris polled together a respectable hired to sell concessions and take tickets at cast of experience actors. Kerr, Wagoner, the Vine Cinema - it was my very first job. Etzc ASF and Buckley are familiar from their work on Now, 15 years later, my film will be playing television. Kerr appears the new show Heist in the very same theater I once worked.Talk and Buckley has recurring roles on CSI New about a huge thrill." 1 t ,y, W ENJOY HOLIDAY MEALS WITH f, INCREDIBLE EDIBLES FROM GENES Get all the extras that make dining special plus: • Freshest produce •Best meat and fish from Gene's custom meat counter Finest boutique wines We Pride Ourselves On Service and Lowest Possible Prices "Come for the Quality, Leavewith the Savings" 2803 Hopyard Rd., Pleasanton, the f Ochs 846-8220 ® ; 36 October 2006 Seminar Music Tricks Of The Trade On for Indies by Ken Parks, MTV Getting Music I Into Movies By Ron McNicoll Given the plethora of There will be talent scouts at the California Independent Film Festival (CIFF). film festivals through- However, they won't be looking for actors. ., out the world,The Ca l- A special panel of seasoned industry experts will be presenting a session on how ifornia Independent composers and bands can get their music into the movies.They are even encouraging Film Festival (CIFF) hopefuls to bring in CDs of their compositions.The Hollywood folks will get back prides itself on its in- to composers whose work they like. novative approach There is a Flip side to the coin.Many independent filmmakers at the festival would t in recognizing each like to learn how to attract composers who could write for their films. Others are contributor to the looking for inexpensive ways to make deals to get established music into their films, filmmaking process. by finding a way to structure a deal so it can be done without financial pain.Those This year,after months topics will be discussed, too. of negotiation,and planning,CIFF proudly an- The panel will start at 4 p.m. Oct. 28 at Steven Kent Winery, 5565 Tesla Road. nounces a very special panel that will engage Holding forth will be Ken Parks,a vice president at MTV Matt Kierscht,a Hollywood in a spirited discussion of the"biz"as well as an music supervisor with a long list of credits, and Alan Kroll, a composer who knows extended Question and Answer period. the practical aspects of trying to get music into films and television. Special Panel Guests include Ken Parks(Vice All three panelists told the Independent they hope the emphasis is on questions President,MTV) Matt Kierscht(Music Super- from the audience, so they can custom-tailor the discussion to real-world needs. visor,"Last Comic Standing,""America's Next The offer to allow composers and bandleaders to leave their CDs sounds like a Top Model,""Cheerleader Nation,""Friends," "West Wing"). bold one. Parks is all for it. He attended the Children's Film Festival in.Danville, The special panel will be Saturday,October and left there with a couple of CDs, which he turned over to Kierscht for further 28 from 3 p.m.to 5 p.m.at The Steven Kent contact with the people who submitted them. Winery in Livermore. "The response there was tremendous, with limited publicity. If you are coming This is not the typical"seminar."To give it to this one,make sure you have questions. Don't be shy.You have three people who the CIFF uniqueness,the discussions will only are doing stuff(in the industry), you have them for an hour-and-a-half, and it's free briefly touch on the mundane,"this is how the with your film festival ticket," said Parks. business works,"and go straightto the heart of Parks is on the panel not only to give advice to new talent and provide insight into what all aspiring composers and songwriters new opportunities in the music industry, as is Kirseht. He's always looking for new really want to know-"how do I get a break to music and new talent,as is Kierscht.With as much experience as these men have, it's have my music heard,considered and into a "easy to tell whether a song is good by hearing the first three bars,"said Parks. television show or major feature film." Kierscht owns his own firm,Quiet On The Set, Inc.He has worked on"The West Nothing will be held back. Wing,""Friends,"and"Last Comic Standing"among many shows. He is a music SLI- No film festival has ever offered such an op- pervisor, an unsung role that doesn't always get a credit at the end of a TV show. portunity.Accordingtothe festival directorTim The profile of Kierscht what does on a movie or TV episode can vary.Typically, Neeley,CIFF is the very first.While being the if he is working with.a composer,he will work out all of the songs and vocals for the first may be enough for all other festivals,CIFF film, and see what music needs to be written. decided it was not enough.CIFF took it a few If Kierscht is hired early in the movie, at the script stage, he will go over it with steps,probably miles further and convinced the film's director and music director to hear their ideas about the music. He will panel members to accept CDs of aspiring art establish a game plan for the music, but sometimes, after principal photography is fists attending for consideration. Neeley explained that CIFF has opened finished, there are changes in the scenes. the door by providing all aspiring composers if a scene runs shorter than planned, for example, the music will time out differ- with a very,very unique opportunity which,if ently. Possibly comedy may have been acted differently than planned, so the music you're at all serious about breaking into the no longer gives the appropriate mood for it.These are the kind of changes Kierscht "biz,"you must take advantage of before it's has to supervise. lost.Don't fail to take advantage of this once Another of Kerscht's skills is the ability to find ways to put established music, for in a lifetime golden opportunity atThe Steven example a Rolling Stones cut, into a film and keep it financially viable.That should Kent Winery. be interesting to filmmakers at CIFF, since by definition they are working on low Neeley added,along with your CD,bring budgets, he said. your iPod with your music and have them The third panelist, Kroll, is a composer who started on "Babylon 5," and did a listen.Maybe they'll sign you on the spot;you two-year stint on Warner Brothers' "Crime Story"series. He also worked on "Road never know! Rules,"a teen series on MTV. Kroll was working very hard as a saxophonist and pianist in bands in his native Buffalo, N.Y. He played an estimated 2200 jobs over nineteen years before Parks , (continued on page 38) The Independent Magazine 37 TRICKS OF THE TRADE (continued from page 37) who was with Warner Bros:at the time, dis- is 20 and has a media production background covered him during a band date in Buffalo. from school. He also has about 35 or 40 Their conversation led to the fact that Kroll songs that he wants to market for shows. is a prolific composer;so he sent his work to Financially he has done all right,spending ,. Parks, which led to the "Babylon 5"job. a big down payment on a house in the nice "You don't get a job as a composer if you Orchard Park area near Buffalo. However, just write a letter. You have to have good Kroll is not money-driven. "I still haven't luck,but you need the opportunity,too.You released one of my CDs..It's only because can't be home on the couch.You have to I've had so much fun, been so enriched. be in bars, night clubs, private occasions, That makes you sail along. It makes you church, parades. I .drove a limo, and played what you are. It's better than being rich. . MY saxophone for the wedding couple. I Music is a mystery to me.That's what makes knew I'd meet someone in a differentsitu- me want to create more, to reach people," ation..You have to get active, if you are a said Kroll. composer," said Kroll.` Kroll lives in Buffalo now, enabled by a current job location in Manhattan and Los Angeles. He's proud of doing a cable TV _ music show with his daughter, Brittany,who r,heer Thro4 Since 1947 �Cb�a�e 9h0G�A OLD Rudolff Nose u �� C *FRESH&SILK FLOWERS• PLANTS•BALLOONS Jeff Rudolff(925)784-5502 +, frlUl7f z' •EUROPEAN GARDENS REALTY SMALL WORLD CLOCKS 11iIWORLD" Inside Alden Lane Nursery 447-0$00 981 Alden Lane,Livermore Find Out What Your Home Is Worth On-line • � . You will receive information on what comparable homes have sold for in your neighborhood & 'i° which homes are currently listed, how : Windermere long they have,been for sale & their prices * :,e ,,. Welcome Home Based on this information,,you will f know what your home is worth. This _ Complete Confidential Market Analysis is FREE.— For REE.For a Free Quick On-line Home Evaluation Visit: ' • • www.TriValleyHomeData.com *Where permissible 1 Consumer info provided by Marie Baysinger and Paulette Lutz,,Better Homes Realty, The Legacy Group.Not intended to solicit properties currently listed for sale. 38 October 2006 Horror Showcase Are you afraid of the dark?If you are then you better bring -DEVILWOOD-a 17th century outpost in England learns someone with you to hold on to during our"Horror Showcase" to fear the devil! on •, October 28th between 10 a.m.and 12 • • to find herself in the middle BoaVentura •- Caires Winery. of • It is Halloween Season.The California Independent Film - MORPHIN(E) - after a car accident an ex-con sees a Festival is ready to scare you right out of your seats! nurse kill a patient! See these following "Horror Showcase" shorts! (if you -VERONICA-an electrophobe faces her worst fear! dare!) -ERIE ROAD-a girl,a murderand a visittothe morgue, l •NE—a young coed • • •rity house bafriends is a Thriller! her deepest fears! So come,have fun and get scared!! Be there if you dare! "Comedy Fest L- . ` d for Films Fundraiser" � �•� Theater is Coming toZIivermore... Now Under Construction Downtown November 15th Theater&concerts of all kinds!What a great enhancement at Tommy T's CO1Tledy to our Quality of Life in the Tri-Valley! YOU can make and Steakhouse a contribution to this fabulous project the EASY WAY! BUY or SELL any home through me,& I will DONATE The California Independent Film Festi- up to 20% of my commission IN YOUR NAME to the val Association along with "Laugh-A-Lot Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center! Visit my Productions"and"Tommy T's Comedy and website for details:www.Tri-ValleyProperties.com 4 Steakhouse" will present a laugh out loud, "-�- fun filled evening of stand-up comedy on Wednesday, November 15th at"Tommy T's , R BRuNDA —RALANDA Comedy and Steakhouse"in Pleasanton. Doors open at 6:00pm(please arrive early Broker AssociatelNotary for best seating, food&drink). 1 (925) 640-5515 A live auction and surprises will be held " between 6:30-7:45 p.m. The 90-minute stand-up comedy show will begin at 8:00pm. Proceeds to benefit the California Indepen- dent Film Festival Association. a. This show will be hosted by John DeK- - oven the Chief Executive Comic of Laugh- A-Lot Productions. John got into comedy - because of a bitter divorce as it was"cheaper F- then therapy" There is no truth in the rumor that his ex-wife asked for half of his jokes. t Scheduled to headline is "Chicago" -- Steve Barkley Steve was a$10,000 winner in America's Funniest People.He has appeared on Showtime, Evening at the Improv and - A&E. There will also be a few special guests to be announced later. Tickets are$20 per person.Call 925-552- .7335 or bury online at CIFF website www. caindiefest.com. Tickets will also be sold at the California Independent Film Festival October 25-29th at all venues. ' Tommy T's Comedy and Steakhouse is lo- cated o cated at 5104 Hopyard Road, Pleasanton. • • • The Independent Magazine 39 i A Rising Star Is Spied. In PPP Festival's Sky By Ron.McNicoll One of the biggest Hollywood moments of the Califor- nia Independent Film Festival will occur when Daryl Sabara takes the stage at the.Vine Cinema in Livermore on Oct. 28. Daryl will be receiving the "Rising Young Star"award of the film festival. He will not only accept the award, but also conduct an interview onstage with film festival executive di- 1 rector Tim Neeley, starting at 1 p.m.A screening of the first n "Spy Kids" movie, in which Daryl had the juvenile lead role, will follow. Afterward, he will be available for autographs. It's your typical Hollywood guest star treatment. Daryl, 14,has earned the reputation of a star, despite his few years. He has starred in three "Spy Kids" movies, with expanded roles coming with each picture. By the time the series got i . . • • to "Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over," it was primarily about his • • • character,who was trapped in a video game. "I had a bunch of fun on the third one. I went through , • • • physical training. I wore a big Spandex suit with 20 pounds • ®. , •, • of rubber armor, for the whole film. 1 got to look like a • superhero. I was 10 then.-It was every kid's dream to be a ,. • . • , , • superhero," Daryl told the Independent. ;• ••, • Since the "Spy Kids" series ended four years ago, Daryl .. • . has kept working. Hewas in "Keeping Up With The Steins," . • . playing a 13-year-old boy having his Bar Mitzvah, amid spar- • • • ring between a father, played by Emmy-award winner Jeremy • Piven, and the grandfather, performed by longtime actor •• • • Garry Marshall. • ••• • • Another film with Daryl, "Her Best Move," is a soccer ` •: • and coming-of-age movie, a little like 'Bend It Like Beck- are s at s• ' In ere J s ham." It is due for release.in the fall. Daryl said he enjoyed • eri ' ' ' • that one, because he got to flirt with so many girls. rescue ' ' ' Daryl was on a movie shoot earlier this year in Rhode_ Island with Amber Tamblyn, star of the canceled CBS series, "Joan of Arcadia." The film, "Normal Adolescent Behavior," is due for release this fall. Daryl played Tamblyn's younger Daryl can sing, too. During the summer, he was in a brother. "We had a great time (filming). It's a very edgy role. workshop for a proposed new musical comedy called "13 by I had a`Mrs.Robinson'relationship with a neighbor's attrac- 13."The concept is to have 13 performers who play 13 year tive mother (played by Kelly Lynch)." olds.The workshop went so well, a three-month full-scale During the past TV season, Daryl landed guest roles on,a show at the Mark Taper;!Forum in Los Angeles is planned. couple of notable shows, "What About Brian? and"Crimi- Daryl still found time this year to make a pilot film for .nal Minds." a potential CBS series.."Boy's Life" is about his character On "Brian,"he played a young man who reviewed video Scott's travels through middle school,with friends and en- . games. Daryl's acting coach and personal manager, Linda envies, and his relationship with his single mother, played by Goodfriend, a former TV actress (she was Lori Ann for eight Nancy Travis. (She was'in "1 Married An Ax Murderer" and years on. "Happy Days"), said that ."comedy is his forte. A "Three Men and a Babyi") "Boy's Life" is a combination lot of kids can do drama, but not a lot can do comedy" of"The Wonder Years"and"Malcolm in the Middle," said However, the"Criminal Minds" role gave Daryl a chance Daryl. Small wonder, since a writer on both shows wrote the to stretch in another direction. "(In that one), I sold myself pilot. All involved have their fingers crossed that CBS will to pedophiles over the internet. I can play all kinds of roles." pick up the show. 40 October 2006 Goodfriend credited Daryl's mother, Sandy Krebs, for making sure that he is raised as normally as possible for a ANDERSON �C n young actor.Daryl was in home school sIPRAS"VI`I (y.v last year. However, this year Krebs, , in the typical mom role of family A c A o E M Y �. chauffeur, is ferrying Daryl to the Los i Angeles movie lots and acting classes, Kindermusik®for Toddlers & Preschoolers while he fits into a class schedule at Special Beginning Piano - Music for Little Mozarts for 4 & 5 Year Olds! West High School in Torrance. (Even Lessons in Piano, Guitar&Voice for All Ages & Levels! the school has been on TV--its foot- Call TODAY for a FREE Consultation! ball field was used for episodes of"The Brady Bunch," Daryl noted.) Daryl and his fraternal twin brother, 925.462.5400 Evan,broke into television when they .comasmusicacadem ` were 7 weeks old. In a controversial iwww. y development in that 1992 TV season, ' i unwed mother Murphy Brown, played by Candice Bergen, had a baby on her show. Both Daryl and Evan were that baby. Law prohibits a baby from being on camera for more than 17 seconds, 409v- Havinga Goodfriend explained. So directors look Party? for twins and triplets to play babies, IY' think since they can be switched without Fresh Fish changing the baby's appearance. It al- Ti 4 lows the filming time of the scene to be Pasta extended. Wood-Hied Grill Evan has had a career,too. He is doing the voice of Robin in Warner len In Fremont • Kk% • Brothers television's animated"Batman and Robin" series. He also had a couple 7-OC of cameo roles in the "Spy Kids" series, Livermore Pleasanton Danville Fremont and played Joan Cusack's son in "Rais- (925) 456-2200 (925) 484-9600 (925) 736-9292 (510) 797-9000 ing Helen." Daryl said that Evan has strizzis.com been very supportive of his career, and he returns the favor. After his teen years, Daryl wants to stay in the movie business. He plans to go to film school, then write and direct. i He has a head start on it. At age 9, ' thanks to editing on computers, he was i • already producing his own digital movie with a friend, Noah Luke. p r The movie was 'A Letter To Abigail," • . with the Abigail being John Adams' wife.The subject was the Declaration R of Independence.The two boys cast their friends in the roles. Daryl played Thomas Jefferson. It won the top prize T at the Children's Film Festival in Dan .k r ville.Who knows? It could be the first � E step on the road to the Oscar and the } /rq Palme D'Or. . ` $tin ua j - rj�ndependent i • i , • i m FesbuzL The Independent Magazine 41 ��Wa - hw _ '. �1 �=1a.�'nr�r p�,�n+�;,s:.�izN: r3,�+= h�rwa•a±.r.��'-��5dr`+w,.A "� _,,•.•. Pictured are(back from left) Deborah McQueen,Jordan Hindiyeh,Alexa Collishaw and Alana Hindiyeh;(front from left) Erin Mc- Queen,Harrison Gould,Alex Gonzales and Zachary Stevens Work by Livermore's ReelSmarts Kids . Pa,rt of Bay Area Showcase By Patricia Koning Macarena", "Commander Bob", .and "The construction workers might celebrate their The California Independent Film Festi- Six-in-One-Ear-Cleaner". work. val will be:an exciting time for eight young ' The youth created their short films The kids agreed that the construction Livermore artists.Alexa Collishaw(age 12), through Deborah McQueen's ReelSmarts workers might dance," says McQueen. Alex Gonzales (8), Harrison Goold (8), program. "The Macarena" began as a site "'*e extrapolated on that idea and the kids Alana Hindiyeh(10),Jordan Hindiyeh(12), specific-improvisation.After last year's dedi- _performed the Macarena all over Downtown Erin McQueen (12),`and Zachary Stevens cation ceremonies for the new Livermore dressed in yellow construction gear as a ,(12) are the proud creators of three short Downtown, McQueen,was brainstorm- celebratory gesture." films that will debut/at the festival: "The ing with the ReelSmarts class on how the The event was a huge success. The kids. 42 October 2006 started at Panama Bay and threaded their ater,Mixed Media, Site Specific Improvisa- "And then—Ka Ching!A light bulb went way along First Street, stopping cars and tion,and various film genres and techniques. off in my head," says McQueen. "We are picking up followers on foot as they went. From this, the students came up with their thrilled and honored that three of our films McQueen's initial purpose in filming was so own ideas for short films. will be screened at the festival." the students could watch their performance. Nathan Trebes, a Livermore native and In the coming year, the ReelSmarts Upon reviewing the footage, the students student at the Academy of Art College in students plan to expand on some projects realized they had captured something San Francisco, serves as the artistic consul- from last year and create entirely new ones. unique. tant for the group. He assists in the edito- Having their work screened at the California The second film, "Commander Bob", rial shaping of material and introduction of Independent Film Festival is an inspiration was the brainchild of Harrison Goold. The special effects. to continue creating without boundaries. concept is simple: Goold is engaged in an In fact, it was Trebes who inspired Mc- ReelSmarts meets from 10:30 a.m. to noon aviation battle with unique special effects. Queen to submit her students'work to the on Saturdays at McQueen's Early Childhood The. film is shot over his shoulder, and a California Independent Film Festival.When Music Education Center,located on Wright chalkboard indicates what he might be she showed him samples of ReelSmarts work, Brothers Avenue in Livermore. For more seeing. As "Commander Bob" battles, the he commented that the films were as good information, visit www.operasmarts.com or enemy planes catch fire and crash. A hand as or better than what he'd seen created by call 925-245-0283. (Alex Gonzales) erases airplane images to children at last year's Festival. indicate Bob's score.Behind the chalkboard, Zachary Stevens bangs erasers together to create smoke effects. "I really like airplanes and wanted to do something funny," says Goold. "The BARTSCH LAW special effects came together as we were brainstorming." TAX & ESTATE PLANNING SERVICES It took about 15 takes to complete the Bartsch Law specializes in estate & tax filming of"Commander Bob."The final film planning & preparation including Trusts, is 97 seconds long. Wills, General Durable Powers of Attorney, "The behind the scenes work was pretty and Advance Health Care Directives Focusing tedious," says Alana Hindiyeh. "We had to on Trust Administration &Tax to optimize cut out and make the planes for each take. But lighting them on fire for the filming was your Asset Preservation Plan. pretty fun." (925) 456-6001 Jordan Hindiyeh came up with the con- cept for the "Six-in-One-Ear-Cleaner" as Rosmary@Bartsch-Law.com Rosmary S.Bartsch a result of a creative exercise. McQueen www.Bartsch-Law.com Attorney At Law shopped garage sales for items the children wouldn't be familiar with, such as a manual typewriter and a mug holder. The idea was that the unknown objects would be a creative starting point—the mug holder in Jordan's a case. "I had no idea what it really was, but my l/ first thought was a six-in-one-ear-cleaner for WE ARE THE CELLULITE SPECIALISTS the whole family," he says. Come see us at our new spa location in Castro Valley! He set up the concept for the film—that a group of friends discover a six-in-one-ear- It We Offer: cleaner at a convenience store and immedi- l VACUUM MASSAGE ° Cellulite Packages ately put it.to use, to their delight—but did ° Facial Toning/Light Therapy not write any dialogue. The entire film was ,s improvised on the spot: Vacuum Massage ReelSmarts evolved from a hip-hop fu- � - Microdermabrasion sion class,requested by parents who wanted _ a creative outlet for their older children �' ' �. ° Triple Oxygen Facials who weren't interested in traditional music _ ci ° European Facials classes. Initially the class was a flop because ° Body Wrap the students resisted being choreographed and performing in a traditional setting. HYDRO THERAPY Mud/Milk&Mineral Baths So McQueen changed the nature of the class.She took the students through creative 2881 Castro Valley Blvd, Suite #5, Castro Valley brainstorming exercises and introduced Angela Caravalho • acaravalho@aol.com • (510) 414-0408 them to Performance Art, Black Light The- The Independent Magazine 43 Car Stories Doc to Play California Independent Film Festival October 28th p �TOR1�.�► JuneBug Films' continues successful indie film festival run f, Car Stories, a documentary that taps soundtrack by guitar great Ronnie Mon- into the passion of racing and car collecting trose. has been chosen to continue its run on the "Car enthusiasts have a passion that is — festival circuit in October. similar to filmmaking in that they love every It will screen on Saturday,October 28th at aspect of the ride,"director Kari Nevil notes • Wente Vineyards Estate Wine at 3:30 m. , Y r1' P• with an intended pun. "When I showed up (expect some surprises at this event). with a camera at the Monterey Classics at , Car Stories features members of NAS- Laguna Seca last August and asked if anyone CAR WEST, Classic Sports Racing Group would be interested in being in a documen (CSRG), and Sports Car Club of Amer- tary, I spent the entire day shooting until ica (SCCA) team, as well as an original the sun went down.There was no shortage 1111111 loll 1 Ill I'lliffil 1,Ill ill ill 111!111'1 in enthusiasm!". ® sNevil spent most of the year finding.and ® following race fans around to cut together the first of a series of car stories. She sent Montrose a rough cut.He signed on,noting Auto • Home • Farm • Ranch ❑ Allied that "rock and roll and racing are a natural Multi policy discounts up to 20% Insurance fit" THE Good driver & Good Student Aa Nationwide'compa,y ;The documentary taps into the thriving HARTFORD O"r",sde` scene of sport and ardent enthusiasts who have made car racing a big part of their lives Business Insurance Workers Comp Commercial Auto -from the 16-year-old racing ingenue who is Wineries • Artisan Contractors • Retail & Wholesale rolling over competition in a man's world to the vintner turning race fans from beer drink- . ers to wine sippers, one race at a time. • ° ° . ° e '"With Car Stories, we've tapped into a ' ' ' • S culture of racers and car fanatics that has existed for decades and is only growing.This film has really resonated with audiences," " • ' LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED ". said Nevil. "The response to the film has been so positive." 'JuneBug Films was founded by Kari Nevil in„1990. She ran the company out of her 'rAC���ZG2 LJel2� WfYl� purple house in San Francisco before the Pointless Dent Removal group moved into American Zoetrope with ------------ --- ---.------------- 925.922.2023 Francis Coppola.Today,JuneBug Films oper- ates out of Menlo Park with a team of L.A. Our and San Francisco-based collaborators who 25 . . . . provide filmed entertainment in the form • ears ofnarrative features, documentaries, short films, music videos and corporate films. JuneBug Films has created features at the resul,ts • including At Risk(Vince Vaughn's first fea- ture), Your Guardian, and Planting Melvin. real professional. The company's recent film, Car Stories Mobile Same Day Service —their first foray into documentary films—is Ted Ma rtel le Fully Bonded and Insured currently making the rounds of independent film festivals,generating buzz and gathering Master Technician, 25 years Experience • Specializing in Larger Dents fans from Florida to California.JuneBug is e-mail: Ted@CAdentworks.com Serving the East Bay Area = working to make Car Stories an episodic www.cadentworks.com • 100%Satisfaction Guaranteed series. • Insurance Claims accepted For more information on Car Stories, License#A1241559 please visit www.jLinebugfilms.com. 44 October2006 ATMs.arx; Iron Filmmaker Contest Includes Those `Secret Ingredients' One of the fun and challenging events is 10:00 a.m.Friday,October 28th at Wente Vineyards Event Cen- the Iron Filmmaker Contest. ter, 5050 Arroyo Rd., Livermore.The movies will immediately The contest is presented by the California be screened and judged by the film festival audience. Independent Film Festival and the Liver- Iron Filmmaker contestants will be admitted free. more Film Commission. This high energy; Email info@caindiefest.com or call Dale Kaye at the Liver- zany competition is open to everyone from more Film Commission,447-1606 to reserve a place in the Iron industry veterans to video prodigies.There Filmmaker event or for additional information. is no entry fee. A "team" representative will go to the kickoff meeting and get the "secret ingre- dients." There are just 24 hours to create comple- tea three-minute short film. It must include # the secret ingredients that all participants will be given at the kick off registration at j b 3 ; . a I ° 1 Y.. 10 a.m. on Thursday October 26th at the � � d V)II L Livermore Chamber of Commerce, 2157 First Street, in Livermore. Completed movies are to be turned in by SAPPORO EgI REAL ESTATE SERVICES SHORT FEST (925) 784-0576 1 2006 www.sandragilberthomes.com Award Winning SANDEE UTTERBACK, Shorts from Sapporo, Real Estate Broker Japan, at The Steven :.: • (888-726-3338) Kent Winery The California Independent Film Festi- "Buyino,or selling a home in the Livermore Valley Wine Country is so excitinu! val's sister festival, the SapporoShort Fest I have my clients and friends. 2006,will be showcasing their award winning built career • • I am happy to call our prized wine region my home. I invite you to explore the films at TheSteven Kent Winery on Saturday possibilities of beautiful place. October 28th at 1 PM. You will see the Grand Prize Winner "The Mechanica," a comedy fromAustralia, Grand Prize selected from among over 1,800 Prudential short films. California Also,see the"Best of Sapporo"2-minute r short animated film"Damn Mosquitos."This �I s j . is a great opportunity to see this.special in- ternational program from Japan here in the w Livermore Valley Wine Country! The Independent Magazine 45 Children's Film Festival Puts Out Call for Entries The 4th Annual Danville International International Children's Film Festival. We 925-314-3475 or Tim Neeley at the Califor- Children's Film Festival will take place May hope you'll join our effort to nurture this. nia Independent Film Festival Association, 18-20, 2007. The festival celebrates films youthful talent and consider supporting 925-552-7335. Or visit www.dicff.org. for children and by children. According your students in classroom or after.school "We look.forward to seeing your students' to the organizers, "We want to-encourage projects to produce festival entries." work at the 2007 Danville International the talented and creative students of our For additional information, contact Children's Film Festival." region to be a part of the festival and submit Christine Mabry at the Town of Danville, - their work.Though the festival is still many months away,the film entry deadlines-are fast approaching.The final deadline for submis- sions ubmis sions is Feb. 15, 2007. The festival is accepts feature length films and videos,short films and videos,documen- tary films;and videos, and animations. The entry fee for student submissions is just$25. togor t n_ • Films for Tots-ages 3 to 6 { Sony • Films for Young Ones—ages 6 to 10 • Films for Pre-Teens—ages 8 to 12 Mitsubishi • Films for Teens—ages 13 to 18 Entering student films is easy with the Panasonic Sharp I I International Film Festival Submission System (BrigitFest) on the Web at www. For the latest in Big Screen and Flat Panel TV's at the lowest prices around, ` withoutabox.com. one name should be at the top of your list,Anderson's. In business for over 75 years, . The 2007 Danville International Chi]- Anderson's combines the Bay Area's most experienced and knowledgeable sales staff with dren's Film Festival is expected to attract film customer service second to none. enthusiasts of all ages to downtown Danville. ������®��� for the screenings of more than 60 films from HCrrV around the world.In addition,the festival will T4'-_ feature educational workshops and seminars, CONCORD 925.825.9300 DUBLIN 925.479.9900 REDWOOD CITY 650.367.9400 SANTA CLARA 408.554.1617 celebrity appearances, a gala opening cel- ebration and an awards ceremony Organizers add, "We know that there are many bright, creative young filmmakers Want Reduced Payments? in our region.We are delighted to provide a ' forum for their talent through the Danville Need Cash? d Refinance with an expert. "More Than Full-Service Ultra Service" __ _ - • Special low rates on fixed & adjustableloans • 1.00% financing available r Cash-flow &interest-only options • Quick approval, minimal'paperwork 925.287.4883direct' EMILY GRAHAM `` CHER WQLLARp I! n Senior Loan Consultant Home: loan [NoI' M 14 Years Experience A Division of World savings Tri-ValleyReal Estate Specialist p 1330 North Broadway, Suite 204 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 925.824.4824• 925.287.4883 direct•925.287.4860.925.930.8726 fax•egraham749@worldsavings.com T^=r This is not a commitment to lend. Programs subject to change. Call today for a free www.cherw.mywindermere.com ■—. Certain restrictions apply. A Division of World Savings/World Oe Mortgage.*Available onfunded Home Loan Experts loans only. loan consultation! .46 October 2006 i • • i i 101•71KVJQ ,OUR HOMEYOW 01jj© r�' Y _ a� tri ♦ALLEY s • D .. i a , • ► " A � AZ 1 N �, �� crealive �.,» .. marketin+g�& adve (r �tising LNtfin.vtU... t,Wittt C4UtiTftY' 925..32?.'192a P Mull.n Li (mnR M Dano GMAC neat Etat ��EO�ep � a. g ' SANKO'F WALNUT LCV£RMOAE . i7 t CFtAM6£Aoe `. �j�^ REEK CCl lA M£0.CE � �\11 E h PF CONVENTION&Vf51TOR5 RllREAII �,-`I ; !n= +i FILM&VIDEO COMMISSION .... ,. SEAMINC,NC1IXt' ERN CA1.11�ORNIA SPORM COMMISSION Sl:lt:ti 1*lKR o»»vac. FILM COMMISSION cakbue �„k 1'i'P,EMONT .DANK ta�I C3rlscTr �Dj.71A��O UVERMp12E I • S/tar?v with the Con manta? The Bay Area's + �� w, �ct- alle R ►Ng �ie�cald InsideBa Area. Y corn ArtWalk O . . . Its Annual Ga 'l*t ArtWalk has attracted many interesting artists, including one who started working again because of ArtWalk. More than 100 works by local artists will be on-display in shops in downtown Livermore for one day only, on Oct. 21. The fifth annual ArtWalk will begin at 11 z �'y s a.m.The shop displays will conclude at 5 ;w t p.m. '' �4 However, there will be an auction of art tr at 6 p.m. at A.& R Floor to Ceiling, 2406 First St.The works to be auctioned are paintings that have been scattered around outdoors in downtown as banners. The auction will begin one hour after the close of ArtWalk to allow time for people to eat dinner at one of the many restaurants in downtown Livermore, and then attend the auction, said ArtWalk spokesperson Linda Ryan. ArtWalk won't have food booths. However, local'vintners.will be on hand at various outdoor locations, pouring samples of their wares. There will be a preview show for Art- Walk rt Walk all day at Foresters Hall, 171 South J Street. One sample from each artist will be shown there. Maps will be available directing visitors to the various artwork locations:No admission is charged for the self-guided tour or the preview display. New this year will be a sidewalk chalk- art activity, for adults and children, in front of the Second Street Mall. A toy store in the mall will display art created by children. Approximately 4000 to 5000 attended Trish Fenton,a Pleasanton teacher,holds up one of the collages she will ArtWalk last year, despite having to nego- tiate around the street construction and have on display at ArtWalk. sidewalk improvements that were being installed during First Street's aesthetic upgrade. A bigger crowd is expected As there were last year, some multiple their work at the Carnegie Building, 2155 this year, now that First Street is back to displays will be featured. High school stu- Third St. Local artist Bud Donaldson normal functioning, said Ryan.The event dents'work will be at Groth Bros. Chevro- teaches art to VA hospital residents every pulls viewers from as far as San Francisco let-Oldsmobile at 59 South L St. week, said Ryan. and the Central Valley. Veterans from VA hospital will display Other multiple displays include the Las 48 October2006 Positas College Art Club and the Colored about finding display space," said Ryan. more mayor John Shirley, is a firefighter, Pencil Society. Rich Mortenson, deputy director of the who is recovering from a bad burn, said ArtWalk will also provide the public's National Nuclear Security Administration, Ryan. "He will be showing his charcoal first chance to buy a 2007 calendar with "produces amazing glass work," said Ryan. work with us again, as he did in the second various local arts events marked for days of "It's a good way for him to go home, and ArtWalk in 2003. His work is wonderful the year. A portion of the proceeds will go do something other than work." and strong," said Ryan. to the Livermore Art Association (LAA) Jesse Shirley, grandson of former Liver- and other arts groups, said Ryan. Pictures on the calendar are the work of local art- ists.The calendars can be purchased at the , rn LAA gallery in the Carnegie Building or at • "� the preview in Foresters Hall. Ryan said that ArtWalk has attracted r many interesting artists, including one who e started working again because of ArtWalk. Hawthorn Suites Livermore Wille Country Trish Fenton, a Pleasanton teacher, THE CLOSEST HOTEL TO LIVERMORE WINE COUNTRY creates collages. She was inspired to start working on them again because Artwalk is low-pressure. "You don't have to sell if you don't want to. You don't have to worry —. ®_ Blather, Blarney 1700 N. Livermore Avenue, Livermore, CA 94551 (925) 606-6060 and Balderdash At RESERVATIONS 1-800-527-1133 Las Positas For Kids Offering a full range of services and amenities including: Complimentary Full Hot Breakfast Buffet, Complimentary Dinner Buffet on Wed., Complimentary Beer&Wine Social Hour Mon. through Thurs. Las Positas College (LPC) in Livermore kicks off its Fall 2006 Performing Arts sched- ule with a Children's Theater presentation of "Blather, Blarney and Balderdash." The play is scheduled in two perfor- mances on Friday, October 27 at 7:00 p.m., LINDA SAN DOVAL and a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday, Octo- ber 28. Both performances will take place Specializing in Manteca,Tracy, Lathrop and Stockton in Room 601 on the campus. Admission is FOCUSED - QUALITY— SERVICE free to the public. Written by Patrick Rainville Dorn, (209) 814-0630 agentrorisand@yahoo.com "Blather, Blarney and Balderdash" incor porates slapstick humor, storytelling and Se171ZCL0 clever dialogue as three leprechauns lead the en Espanol enactment of an Irish folk tale called "The Griffin's Feather." L Aska6out our The Las Positas Theater Arts program - jeVEWY(0WE" 7oursan provides knowledge, training, and practical Incentives! experience in all aspects of theater arts.The ' curriculum offers the essential lower-division courses necessary for transfer to similar programs at four-year institutions, as well as assisting students towards employment .. REALTORS in professional, academic and Community 300 Northgate Dr. Theater. Manteca,CA 95336 Las Positas College is located at 3033 (209)6245100 Collier Canyon-Road in Livermore. 1/ „ www.exitaragon.Com The Independent Magazine 49 ArtWalk to Show Entries' Teen FilmfromFestival Livermore's inaugural Teen Film Festival three teenaged girls was the spark that made before the deadline (September 22). "To will participate in ArtWalk, in addition to up the librarian's mind. Seeing the quality make a film that short," said Nocar, "takes a holding its own big event. that young film makers are capable of achiev- lot of time and effort." Sponsored by the Livermore Public ing, she decided to do the teen festival. Nevertheless, modern technology has Library, the festival is scheduled for 7 p.m. The event was announced in early August. made film making"accessible to young Wednesday, October t 8 at the main library A month later Nocar was able to report that people,she observed. Complex, expensive Hoping to offer some additional show- interest was running high,but she was unable. equipment is no longer a necessity; even a ings of the teen-made movies, the festival to make a prediction about how many movies cell phone works. has arranged for two venues at ArtWalk on would actually be entered. "It's something for not just the few,but a Saturday,October 21.Groth Bros,59 South "Things seem to be really cooking," she lot of kids can do it,"Nocar said. She noted L Street,will hold screenings throughout the said. "We've sent information about the fes- websites have arisen where fledgling film day,from 10 a.m.to 5 p.m.There will also be tival out to the schools,and there's definitely makers are invited to share their work with screenings that day at the.community center interest.We're getting a lot of calls.Most are their peers. at Robert Livermore Park. inquiry type, with people asking about the Festival rules limited the length of each The teen festival is an offshoot of the rules and seeking.other information. How entry to five minutes. Entrants could submit California Independent Film Festival.When many films will be submitted, I just don't two films apiece.No fee was charged.All the that festival -- which.has grown into a gala know.We'll have to wait and see.". work--writing, directing, production, edit- international event established itself in The librarian observed that the making of ing,etc.--had to be.done.by persons aged 12 Livermore,Mary Sue Nocar began thinking a film, even a short one like those the teen through 18.Settings used in live filming had about putting on a film festival for teens. festival will spotlight,demands a lot of work. to be in Livermore,but Livermore residency Nocar runs the library's teen programming. Because of that, she anticipated the bulk of wasn't required of the film makers. A prize winning entry in last year's festival by the entries wouldn't be submitted until right. On the October 18 festival night, the a I hF � • / 11 � / try Experience. k GRACE-LAN o d 1 ;.4F. T • • O 50 October 2006 Danville to Crystal Image Farms Lesson - Host Art inrani _ The Park . , 1: The 8th Annual Art in the Park will be held Saturday and Sunday,Sept.30 and Oct. I on Front Street in Danville. greatest The event is cosponsored by the Town phone: (925)862 - 0447 eniail: buzzdenizenicsbcglobal.net of Danville and the Alamo Danville Artists'Society.There is no admission charge.Activities are planned from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. INTEGRITY • HONESTY • QUALITY This year the 8th Annual Art in the Park features over 50 booths of fine Full Time Real Estate Services art for sale by some of the best artists .Consistent Top Producers in the Bay Area and beyond. There Pleasanton 6 Livermore Natives. We know the Tri Valley Market will be paintings in oil, watercolor, pastel & acrylics, and glasswork, pot- tery, fine jewelry and photography. h Many of the artists will be demonstrat- ing their skills. Proceeds from this event go direct- ly to the Community Art Education RE/MAX Program,which grants money directly Executive to the art teachers in the San Ramon 1686 2nd Street Valle School District for special A Valley p }' Livermore classroom art projects. Live Music, Cindy Greei®, GRI www.cindygreci.com Dominic Greei® Food and Wine and a Judged Indoor Art Show will be included. (925)784-1243 www.dominicgreci.com (925)525-0864 The Inside Art Show for ADAS Members and the artists who have booths in the festival will be in the Community Center during Art in the fl Park. It will be open to the public on Spw1aUztT 1, �L Saturday from 1 1:00 am to.5:00 pm, and Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. / �Gth Gamer Robert Chapla,well-known artist and instructor, is the judge. 1 A ' Face Painting will be provided by the art students of the Iron Horse Honw School. { The event is free to the public. EMbeAishynzvts Sunday October I, special guest % r artist will be Stefan Baumann of"The i / / ' ti:it Grand View:America's National Parks Through the Eyes of an Artist" andNEW ARRIVALS WEEKLY y PBS fame. Entertainment features two dif : ferent musical groups each day: Sat., Sept. 30: 11:30am-1:30 pm: Stony 5737 Val.l.ey AveriuctN6 Ridge Ramblers; 2:00pm-4:00pm:San : . Ramon Valley Jazz Combo;Sun.,Oct. l: 1 1:30am-1:30 pm:Monte Vista Jazz925-426.8844 A, AI Combo; 2:00pm-4:00pm:TBA. The Independent Magazine 51 winecountry I by Harry Stoll October Is Italian Heritage Month Go. for some vinos ending in vowels In October you can be in a month- I Super Tuscan - initially irritating mar- long parade of Livermore winery Italian keting words that you get inured to- is varietals that also parade year`round. Sangiovese juiced with some Cabernet `Barbera—surprisingly not Sangio- Sauvignon. Marion says that too often it's vese—is the most-planted Italian grape + a Cab tamed with some Sangiovese, rather variety in California.Winemaker Mike i than with the traditional Cabernet Franc. Eckert says tart Barbera goes well with He says that if you use the right fruit you pizza, because it finds a soul mate in the don't have to pump it up.The 2003 from marinara sauce. Greg Rogers, tasting room the previous paragraph and the Antonazzi manager at Tamas Estates believes Sangio- Vineyard in Brentwood is from the right vese goes better with marinara. Frenchy fruit.The small clone grapes were grown Mouline says it's a case of opposites at- by Hal Liske, of el Sol Vineyards, a winery tract and Barbera is pleased to find the fat that pours at Big White House, as well as in the cheese. its own digs on Lupin. Let's get out of the way, as they wave A Super Tuscan that cuts it is the-2003 their hands around discussing Italian Home Ranch Livermore Valley Vincere varietals, and enjoy some Barberas from by Steven Kent Winery.This propri- Livermore Valley wineries. Here are a !` etary blend of 59%Sangiovese and 41% few noteworthies (and we should hedge Cabernet Sauvignon does the math to and say they're no doubt others): 2001 get the perfect balance of hittedness and Lodi Eckert Estate Winery, 2002 Amador smoothness.All the grapes were grown on County el Sol Vineyard and the 2003 the Steven Kent estates. Purists may turn Livermore Valley Tamas Estates. up their nose but blends make good varietals better. Owner All good with pizza and that's high praise,just don't get Steve Mirassou writes that it has a luscious red cherry, black- kid pizza. But these also are appropriate when you want high berry, five-spice powder matrix. Never argue with a man acid-try Thai or Jamaican pork chops. wielding a matrix. The el Sol label is clean clear simple primitive and color- Tamas Estates super Super Tuscan is the 2003 San Fran- ful with no'boiler plate on the front and nice words on the cisco Bay Livermore Valley Toscano Robusto.This robusto back that steers clear of the usual cliches. vino is 80%Sangiovese and the balance Cabernet Sauvignon. Sangiovese—the primary grape in Chianti—is typically Perfect with roast beef that.has been gentled with some light in color and doesn't hit hard.This makes it perfect marinating.Tamas Estates has moved from the Steven Kent with pasta plates where the meat isn't overwhelming. But property down Tesla to Wente, which owns it.At press time here are two that are not lightweights but do go best with the new tasting room was almost ready and a peek promised food that's not too heavy a classy place. It sort of opened for the Harvest Festival The 2003 Livermore Valley Mitchell Katz at Ruby Hill (tasting no selling) and was to have its grand opening in is a smooth dark'beauty that benefits from some airing out, late September. It has two tiers of wine, the primas and the the way you might do with a brawny cab. It met chicken everyday wines with the screwcaps and a homemade look to breast—marinated in Canola and Tamas Estates Zinfandel the bottling. Rosato then hit with a bit of rosemary and sauteed—and the Charbono is grown on only 80 acres in California and two played a love song.The'grapes are from the Cracker- Eckert Estate on Arroyo Road has a bit of that acreage, so box Vineyards,which winemaker Michael Katz describes as we're assuming that some of those grapes are in its 2001 "pristine." Certainly, the wine from it is. Lodi Charbono.Winemaker Mike Eckert recommends it The 2003 San Francisco Bay Big White made by owner with lighter fare and he's right. It's a match made at the meal John the Elder Marion, who lists a raft of Flavors in this with Caesar salad topped with grilled chicken breast. complex wonder. And, it has a bit of a hit.This one's good Italy produces no wine called Charbono. In California we at the tasting bar and better with food—the ultimate test. It pronounce it Char-bono, some say Shar-bono, nobody gives and'chicken sausage with apple fell into each other's arms. it the Italian `k' sound, but who cares? Some guessers guess Maybe the apple went with the cinnamon Marion tastes in . it's the same as Dolcetto, grown in the Piemonte region and it. also grown on or near Eckert Estate, which was to bottle 52 October 2006 some in September. Dolcetto is a light wine, low in tannin. •LASIK on-site(special pricing&financing available) Eckert produces some Italian field •Medical and surgical treatment of eye dis- blends,which could mean the vines were ease . - 7 inter-planted. However, in this case means .New! Bifocal Implants for cataract surgery they were bin-blended when picked or blended at crush.Two of these are Italian f%� �/i��'T� `����y, %�«�`/)� VALLEY EYECARE CENTER Medical Associates blends with various amounts of Refosco, Jonathan Savell, M.D. • Robert Neves, M.D. Montepulciano, Corvine, Schioppetmo, See Your Best! Look Your Best! Jay DeLaney,O.D. • Gina Trentocosti,O.D. Freesia, Barbera, Sangiovese and some __ Amanda Tarr,O.D. Grenache (a Rhone variety) to mix things up a bit. 460-5000 , 111 According to Eckert, these are "Totally '• Fenton different grapes that grew up together in i Pleasanton, • / the barrel." Like many people of interest ing character, perhaps difficult to control but very rewarding if you give them a shot. Eckert plans some barrel tasting of these field blends soon. ESCAPE THE "WAREHOUSE" fr !' Same Pricing Available a friendly professional setting. ' Since 1986 Kaiser Members Welcome / / 3 PLEASANTON LIVERMORE 4460 Black Ave,#C 1530 Holmes St,#D i 484-3507 960-0391 i Denise DoIci Kenneth Billheimer,Au.D. Gregory Fitzgibbons, .:1. -• ,. ` ,, /Prudential Your local audiology professionals,providing high www.DeniseDoici.com quality hearing health care to the Tri-Valley since 1986. ��5� ���EP • Complimentary �� '" "'".:;„,:'"W` Y .+ • Glft With every Canvas Painting r • Purchase! (up to$200 vai • • • 11 The Independent Magazine 53 1 � t BENT CREEK WINERY,5455 Greenville Road, GARRE VINEYARD&WINERY, RIOS-LOVELL Livermore.Tasting room open Friday-Sunday noon to 7986Tesla Road,Livermore.Tasting room WINERY,6500 Tesla 4:30 p.m.or by appointment.455-6320. open Sat and Sun.11:30 a.m,to 5 p.m. Rd.,Livermore, 443- Cafe open M-F 11-2:30 and weekends 0434.Open for tastings 11 BIG WHITE HOUSE, 6800 Greenville Road, 11:30-3:30.Information 371-8200.Friday a.m.to 5 p.m.weekends and 11' Livermore.Open 12-4:30 p.m,weekends.Wine tasting night dinners with local winemaker,fixed menu. a.m.to 3 p.m.Wed.,Thurs.,and Fri. information call 449-1976. Expanded event facilities. 4 HIDDEN CREEK WINERY at The Crush,1249 BOAVENTURA DE CAIRES WINERY, 9309 Quarry Lane,Suite 140,Pleasanton.Open Fridays 4 RODRIGUE MOLYNEAUX ESTATE. Tesla Road,Livermore.Open first weekend of each to 7 p.m.for tasting.Information 484-2422 or www. WINERY,3053 Marina Ave.,Livermore.Open month,Saturday and Sunday noon to 4 p.m.or by thecrushwinemaking.com. weekends noon.to 5 p.m.(call first) 447-4280. appointment,.606-9672 or boaventuravineyard.com. JOHN CHRISTOPHER CELLARS,at Black- STONY RIDGE WINERY,4948 Tesla Rd.,Liver- BODEGAS AGUIRRE WINERY,8580 Tesla Rd., smith Square,25 So.Livermore Ave,Suite 103,Liver- more.Tastings 11 a.m.to 4:30 p.m.Thurs.-Sunday; Livermore.Weekends noon to 4:30 p.m Specializing more.Open Thurs-Sun.12 to 5 or by appointment. Monday-Wednesday by.appointment.449-0458. in estate grown premium red wines.251-9419 or 456-WINE(9463)or www.johnchristophercellars.com. www.Bodegasaguirre.com. TAMAS ESTATES,5489 Tesla Rd.,Livermore.Open LA ROCHELLE WINERY,5443 Tesla Rd.,Liver- Wed.-Sunday noon to 4:30 p.m.456-2380. CEDAR MOUNTAIN WINERY,7000 Tesla Rd., more.Tasting noon to 4:30 p.m.daily.243-6442. Livermore.Weekdays 11 a.m.to3 p.m.Weekends TENUTA VINEYARDS,633 KalthoffCommon, noon to 4 p.m.(925)373-6636 or Fax 373-6694. LIVERMORE VALLEY CELLARS,1508 Livermore.Open for tasting Fri.,Sat.and Sun.noon to www.wines.com/cedarmountain. Wetmore Road,Livermore.Tasting room open noon 5 p.m.or by appointment,960-1006. to 5 p.m.weekends and holidays Tours upon request. CHARLES R VINEYARD,8100 Crane Ridge Rd., Picnic area.Information 454-9463. THE SINGING WINEMAKER,taste wines at Livermore.Open weekends noon to 4:30 p.m.Infor- Tesla Vintners,5143 Tesla Rd.,Livermore.Tuesday- mation 454-3040 or www.chariesrvineyards.com. LITTLE VALLEY WINERY,tasting room at Tesla Sunday 11 a.m,to 5 p.m.925-606-9463. Vintners,5143 Tesla Rd.,Livermore.Tuesday to Sunday CHOUINARD VINEYARDS,33853 Palomares noon to 5 p.m.Additional information,925-862-9006. THE STEVEN KENT WINERY,5443 Tesla Road, Road,Castro Valley.Hours noon to 5 p.m.weekends. Livermore.Open daily noon to 4:30 p.m.Information A map,wine list and event schedule is available by MITCHELL KATZ WINERY At Ruby Hill, 456-2380. calling the winery at(510)582-9900. 1188 Vineyard Ave,Pleasanton.Picnickers welcome; events.facilities;historic building.Complementary THOMAS COYNE WINERY,51 E.Vallecitos CONCANNON VINEYARD,4590 Tesla Road, tasting.Winery tasting room open Thursday-Sunday 'Road,Livermore.Open for tasting Sat.and Sun.noon Livermore.Tastingsdaily 11 a.m to 4:30 p.m.Tours by noon to 5 p.m.925-931-0744.www.mitchellkatzwin- to 5 p.m.Historic 1881 winery building.Information appointment.Picnic area.Information call 456-2505. ery.com. 373-6541.Tasting also available at Tesla Vintners. CROOKED VINE WINERY,4948 Tesla Road, MURRIETXS WELL,located at 3005 Mines Road, WENTE VINEYARDS: ESTATE WINERY&TASTING Livermore.Tasting Thursday-Sunday 11-4:30 or Mon.- Livermore.Tasting room open Wed.through Sun. ROOM,5565 Tesla Road,Livermore.Open daily 11 to Wed.by appointment.371-8156. 11 a.m.to 4:30 p.m.,weekdays by appointment. 4:30;tours are at 11 a.m.,1,2 and 3 p.m.Information 456-2390. call 456-2305. DARCIE KENT VINEYARDS,No tasting room,. for information about wines,call 443-5368. PALOMARES VINEYARDS WINERY,34329 WENTE VINEYARDS:VISITORS CENTER&RES- Pal omares Road,Castro Valley.Open 1-5 Tuesday TAURANT,5050 Arroyo Road,Livermore.Open daily 11 ECKERT ESTATE WINERY,tasting at 2400 thru Friday and Saturdays 12-5.Tasting in the barrel to 4:30.Award winning restaurant open daily M-Sat. Arroyo Rd.,Livermore,weekends,noon to 5 p.m., room at Westover Winery.For information contact: for lunch and dinner,Sun.for brunch and dinner. Reservations recommended 456-2450. weekdays by appointment.455-0243. 510-885-1501. ELLISTON VINEYARDS,463 Kilkare Road,Sunol. PAGE MILL WINERY,1960 So.Livermore Ave., WESTOVER VINEYARDS.AND WINERY, � 34329 Palomares Road,Castro Valley.Open 2-5 Tues- Tasting weekends 11 a.m.to 5 p.m.Sales and group Livermore.Open weekends for tasting 11 a.m,to 4:30 day-Friday(call first)and 12-5 Saturday and Sunday. tasting weekdays by appointment. Phone 862-2377, p.m.www.pagemillwinery.com;456-7676. For more information,contact office 510-537-3932 www.elliston.com. fax 510-538-8772 www.westoverwinery.com. RED SKYE WINERY,tasting at Tesla Vintners, EL SOL VINEYARD,winery at 8626 Lupin Way, 5143 Tesla Rd:,Livermore.l l a.m.to 5 p.m.Tuesday to WHITE CRANE WINERY,and Winery 21,5405 Livermore.Tasting available at 800 Greenville Road, Sunday.510-795-7725.www.redskyewine.com. Greenville Rd.,Livermore.Tasting weekends 11:30 Livermore.Open 12-4:30 p.m.weekends.606-1827 or a.m,to 4:30 p.m.455-8085. www.elsolwine.com RETZLAFF VINEYARDS,1356 S.Livermore Av- enue.Tastings Tues.-Fri.noon to 2 p.m:and weekends WOOD FAMILY VINEYARD&WINERY,7702 FENESTRA WINERY,83 E.Vallecitos Road, noon to 4:30 p.m.Picnic area.For information call Cedar Mountain Dr.,Livermore.Open for tasting by Livermore.Tastings weekends noon to 5 p.m.Picnic 447-8941. appointment,606-7411. area.Information 862-2292. 54 October 2006 Valley Chorale Society Is Adding Sing-It-Yourself Messiah to Season The Valley Concert Chorale has added Psalms" and Broadway selections; Britten's message or mail payment to PO. Box 286, something new for its 2006-2007 season. "Rejoice In the Lamb"; Henk Badings"'Trois Livermore, 94551-0286. Email at info u The Chorale will host a Sing-It Yourself Mes- Chansons,: plus selected pieces by William valleyconcertchorale.org. Tickets are also siah on December 15 in Livermore. Byrd. available at The Book Oasis, 1983 Second The season is as follows: Individual concert tickets are advance, Street, Livermore; Towne Center Books, On Saturday, Nov. 4, the Valley Concert $17 adults and$14 for seniors 62 and older; 555 Main Street, Pleasanton; and at the Chorale will present, 'An Evening of Piano at the door, $20 adults and $17 seniors. door. For more information, visit www.val- Music with Daniel Glover." This will be a Students 18 and under are free when ac- leyconcertchorale.org. benefit concert for Valley Concert Chorale, companied by an adult. About the Valley Concert Chorale The at the First Presbyterian Church, 4th and L To purchase individual tickets and for Valley Concert Chorale,now in its 43rd sea- Streets, Livermore at 7:30 pm information about advance and season son,is theTri-Valley's premier chorus.Under John Rutter's "Gloria" and Donald tickets, call (925) 866-4003 and leave a the direction of John Emory Bush. McCullough's "Canite Tuba: A Christmas. Triptych" will be performend Saturday & �' Sunday, December 9 at 8 p.m., Trinity Lu �_ TI�E� ,P,4=340- #CR IRfii theran Church, Pleasanton & December 10 Q.Q�Lf Qp at 3 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 4th & I L Stree ts, Livermore.Valley Concert Chorale will host a"Sing-it Yourself Messiah," on Friday, Dec. 15. This will be the beginning of a new holiday �. tradition for the Tri-Valley community, at Before and After First Presbyterian Church,4th and L Streets, School Care 't ` Livermore at 7:30m. "Three Tableaus of Faure": the "Requi- Hourly Child Care em", "Messe Basse,"and "Cantique de Jean L61(ZTHDAY PARTIES! .r. Hourly Pick-Up ummer-Hours of Racine"will be the program on Saturday and FOR AGES 2-12 YEARS. Sunday, March 17 at 8 p.m., First Presbyte and Drop-Off PRIVATE WEEKEND Operation rian Church, 4th & L Streets, Livermore & PARTIES. M-Th:8:30am-8:00pmFlexible Preschool F:8:30am-11:00pm March 18 at 3 p.m.Trinity Lutheran Church, pro Sat:Priv Program ate Parties Pleasanton. g 0:00am-2:30pm w/ The season concludes on Saturday, Ma p-in from 3-11pm Y Movie Nights •�•- ��• Sun:Private Parties 19 at 8 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, Pleasanton with a concert that has the theme "Celebrating Byrd and the Bees."The pro .. gram will include Bernstein's "Chichester ,, ••. LIEU LIVERMORE Tremendous savings on major name brands All Pali Italian Cribs&Chests Being Liquidated BRING IN THIS AD I (925) 449-3020 HWY580 & GET 10% OFF 6909 Las Positas Rd., Ste. A =� , ' ONE ITEM Livermore, CA 94551 Las Positas Rd. i Offer Exp. 10/31/06 Open Mon-Fri 11 am-spm ' 75t&3rd Sat. of every month 17am-4pm Located 1/2 mile East of Vasco Rd. Bibs • Car Seats • Toys • Chests • Cribs • Strollers • High Chairs • Playyards • Safety Gates GRACO' The Independent Magazine 55 i L foodmatters I by Peter Brumm _r Musings: . No man is an island, Speed snack, and Getting slammed NO MAN IS AN ISLAND If you were to deposit me and my family on a deserted but abundant island and charge us with fashioning some semblance of a society, then barring our usual pattern of fond bickering and lying around until mom was forced to take action, individual responsibilities would divide along these lines: Dad would develop a marketing plan for joint ventures with ice cream and scotch-producing nations;Tim would develop a marketing plan for leading-edge technologies like flying cars and for-profit peanut league baseball franchises;Tom would develop alternatives to what everyone else developed; Elizabeth would develop a line of young women's evening beach wear; I would develop new and inventive ethnic dishes based on indigenous food groups; Mom would develop a plan for keeping. us together and alive. If you were to deposit me and my family in the center of a historic, touristy town -say, St. Augustine,.Florida - and charge us with finding something good to eat, then barring some act of God that persuaded my family to listen to me, the one person who has based his adult life on food discrimination, acquisition and consumption, respon- sibilities would divide along these lines: everyone but me would suddenly crave fried cheese and happy hours. would find the nearest pair of coin-operated binoculars and start pumping the horizon for answers. SPEED SNACK Finally, after all these years, I understand why a Red Delicious apple and a bowl of potato chips - my favorite snack of all time-went so well with the Speed Racer Show. Put simply, the anxiety which I felt about getting down to the last of the chips before I finished the apple, only to find out I was out of chips,was the very same anxiety Speed felt about coming so close to identifying Racer X, then being DENIED! And there is only one way in the universe to express this anxiety, as enacted for all eternity by Speed: ...Speed gets out of his car, boot heels click on the tarmac. Wreckage of another race burns nearby, crowd roars. Speed has won the race (and yet again, his white pants have neither soiled nor lost their crease). Speed looks off into the distance at Racer X's car, peeling away. He wants to know. He burns for the truth. He murmurs out loud, barely audibly: "Was that.....? Huhhhhhhhhhhh.....? HMMmmmmmmmm..... SLAM To the poets it's a verbal match. To the singles it's a failed catch. To the skinheads it's away to dance. To the bridge players it's a rare chance. To the dieters it's slim's past tense. To the drinkers it's getting dense. To the righteous it's the Cains &Abels. To the waiters it's simply too many tables. -PB. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Peter Brumm is The Independent restaurant critic. Email him at pjbrumm2002@yahoo.com 56 October 2006 Lecture Series • Continues at Museum On Main • ' : ® ,• Look for the Fireplace! Kay Speaks, a first generation Chi- ' ' • ° nese-American, will presemt a lecture on "Angel Island and the Chinese Immigrant , Experience." _ The program will be Thursday,Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. at the Museum On Main, 603 Main Street, Pleasanton. 0 o A Livermore resident since 1978, Kay — :" _ • 1 Speaks was born and raised in the Tulare ` County farming communities of Farmers- ville and Visalia. She is a first generation " 4 • i i e • Chinese-American on her father's side of ® � the family. - Although at the age of twelve she , helped her Irish grandmother's family re- search efforts by typing letters to potential "cousins," she officially started her per- Since 1980 genealogy research seven years ago in an AR-Set pfica��®11S in an effort to discover the story behind on �^ the murder of her Chinese great-uncle's On Location Makeup wife.This murder was something that had AUTO BODY not been talked about in her family for Weddings over 76 years. Her journey of discovery takes her Photography �t 3561 First St., Livermore through the lives of three brothers born in i FOREIGN&DOMESTICi China, who became San Francisco "paper SpeCIQI EventsIuy •Computer Color Matching I r�,�i sons"-all were husbands,two were known / F' 4) •All work Guaranteed fathers and farmers, and the other mur- 443-723 (925)443-8548.Fax:(925)443-0110 dered his sister-in-law. His actions became a permanent part of United States law that is cited in court cases to this day. Reservations are requested. Admis- sion is $5 for museum members and $10 KIf GRAND / r` for non-members. Call (925) 462-2766. i�� Memberships will be available for purchase that night. Kay Speaks is member of the Liver- p Hours: more-Amador Genealogy Society, co 4v .; I� �' Mon-Thurs: 10:30 am-9:00 pm " chairs their Study Group and chairs the Fri-Sat: 10:30 am-9:30 pm Tri-Valley TMG Users Group for The Sun: 11:00 am-9:00 pm z` p c{ Master Genealogist software. She is also a member ofvarious national,state and local .-- ---. genealogy societies, the Angel Island Im- BUJ/ One Entree � !Receive migration Station Foundation(AIISF),the & Receive a Second C Chinese Historical Society of America,and o 10% OC F is the Information Technology Manager for Entree for 50%OFF. Pleasanton based Leisure Sports, Inc. Discount taken on item of equal or Any One Entree. Her Chinese genealogy exhibit,which lesser value. can be seen at the Museum on Main's Chinese Exhibit that runs September 17 ' • e to December 3, won first place in the educational collection division at the 2006 • • • �' ' Alameda County Fair. The Independent Magazine 57 Gala Benefits Valley Dance Theatre The Valley Dance Theatre will be hosting Valley Dance Theatre is a Livermore- a gala performance and Fundraising event this based non-profit dance company and school yv fall to kick off its 27th season. whose mission is to provide high quality The event will be Saturday, October dance productions and instruction to the 7 starting at 5 p.m. It will be held at the entire Tri-Valley area. . Veterans Memorial Building, 522 South L Tickets are $50. To order tickets, please Street, Livermore. call (925) 243-0927. Group rates for 10 or There will be hearty hors d'oeuvres and more available. select wines served throughout the evening. For additional information go to www. VDT's Company members will be perform- valleydancetheatre.com • ing several works from the company's reper- This performance is partially funded by toire, such as variations from La Bayadere, grants from the City of Pleasanton,Tri-Valley Pas De Quatre, Le Corsaire and Don Quix- Community Foundation, Alameda County ote. In addition, this performance will also ARTSFUND, and from the City of Liver- Pas De Quatre showcase a few newly-choreographed works more Special Events and Tourism Fund. Photo-Karly Heller-Evans by talented artists of the Company. . Yorkshire Roofing of GRAHAM- Northern California, Inc. MORTUARY 9 00 www.yorkshireroofing.com T r 7275 B National Drive, Livermore, CA 94550 y� w i •'d . 9)'r . ade,c9as9v Call Christine or Deanna i consultation. • - visits available. -_ 4167 First Street,Pleasanton }_ 1-925-846-5624 Fax: 1-925-846-1373 171)429 a+f MAKE s FOR EVERYTHING ! FREE IN-HOME ESTIMATES OF.CUSTOM CLOSETS, OFFICE CONFIGURATIONS AND d GARAGE CABINETS. ASK US ABOUT OUR FREE REPLACEMENT POLICY. ,, WE'RE THE LOW COST LEADER: • � ' * � . . �axc�cc� �� acct ea2er2 CLOSET AND STORAGE SOLUTIONS FOR HOME AND OFFICE SERVING THE TRI-VALLEY Masfti gtte,, 111CLOS1UMAly 9 2 5-B 4 6-B 9 6 B Aa fh ori,ed Dealer. 58 October 2006 I New A le Ame Book Identifies Native American Sites �` ' T1Cd� The Bay Area's original inhabitants arrived over 10,000 years ago and thrived until the late 18th f An Dtes century. By 1806,just 200 years ago, they had left the East Bay hills. Settlement and development ?; Ill.elle. �SL$d -Hills has obliterated most of their homes and villages; but not all. t 1 In a new book, "Native American Indian Sites in the East Bay Hills," opens a window on the � �crn� area's past and guides readers to more than 50 remnants of the.area's first civilization. Author is James Benney Most of the sites are on public lands. Some are accessible by car. _ The author spent 30 years trekking the East Bay regional parks. In his introduction he notes * that"native culture has not been adequately recognized or studied for its achievements in adapting . peacefully to this land and environment.These sites are irreplaceable assets for understanding the evolution of human beings.They should be approached and treated with utmost reverence." ►r ts�,� �> �; �`' 's The book provides a description of what to look for and how a particular site might have been used, such as ceremonial sites and bedrock mortars. 4 rn� Benney identifies significant Native American sites in Mt.Diablo State Park.Morgan Territory and Round Valley Regional Preserves, Los Vaqueros Watershed, Garin Regional Park and Las Trampas Regional Wilderness. Schematic directions supplemented with GPS coordinates allow readers to explore the sites.Color photographs are provided to help pinpoint many sites. He said he had heard concerns about revealing locations for fear of hordes of visitors destroying the sites and souvenir hungers dig- ging for artifacts. "I contend that the need for increased public awareness and an appreciation of Native American history outweighs the need to hide some sites in order to protect them." Benney notes that it is illegal to remove artifacts from Native American sites and urges readers of the book to be respectful of Native American culture past and present. "Native American Indian Sites in the East Bay Hills" is available at selected bookstores or through eastbayhillpeople.com at$12.50, which includes shipping and handling. For further information contact Robert Bardell at Rocky Ridge Publications, 415-931-7249. AW E PARKWAY,jX_ENCE GALLERY e Art Collectibles Custom Framing "Song of the Wine Country"by./un Carey 7079 VILLAGE DuBLINs _ 828-5083 Village _ OR VISIT US NI, REPRESENTING Green Doolittle Center Carey - • Wysocki N Dublin Blvd. • many more 580 AGrcenwich WorkshoFCpgRT STUDIO � (D 2006 June Carey. 2006 The Greenwich Workshop,Inc. - GET READY FOR WINTER . . . . Nea^ CALL } LLER� .! Millers tingIN41sAndAirConditio ,ase n HEATINand AIR CONDITIONING �n 441-3000Aw�w6fS*od"d jL for G I NEW STANDARDS FOR LIVING` CCont.Lic.253756 46 Years Serving Free Estimates on New Equipment • Financing Available. trie Tri-Valley • Service department • Air duct cleaning Residential and Commercial Serving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin,San Ramon, Blackhawk,and Danville • Maintenance Contracts 2182 Research Dr., Livermore, 9 2 5-4 4 7-3 0 0 Mon.-Fri. 8:00 to 5 The Independent Magazine 59 2006valleycalendar SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER ONGOING Art in the Park,Sept.30-Oct.1.Alamo/ j Poetic Medley,Barnes&Noble,4972 Dublin Blvd., Danville Artists'Society and Town of Danville, ; Dublin,560-1495.second Thursday of the month,7:45 art showcase.420 Front St.,Danville. p.m.Themed,open or invitational readings. Information 837-6577. Saturday Salons on the third Saturday of each t Our Town,Pleasanton Playhouse Studio .month at Fourth Street Studio.Each reading includes one or two featured writers(prose and poetry),fol Theatre,1048 Serpentine Lane,Suite 309, Pleasanton.Sept.29,30;Oct,1,6,7,8 This lowed by open readings.People Who Write and Tell winner of the Pulitzer Prize,by Thornton Stories hosts the event sponsored by Fourth Street Wilder,is perennially one of the most popular * f Studio,2235 Fourth St.,Livermore.For more information, contact Karen.Hogan at 925 456-3100 or by email at selections for high school productions,was received in 2002 on Broadway starring Paul 4thstreetstudio@pacbell.net. PoetryOen Mike-Night,3rd Thursdays,All poets, Newmntonpllayhkets 462 2121 or on-line at www. pY p Eugene O'Neill Festival,Oct.6,7 and 8. pleasantonplayhouse.com. young and old,raw,simmering or stewed are welcomed Friends of the Pleasanton Library Friday,Oct 6: My Life with O'Neill with Travis every third Thursday of the month,7pm-9pm at The Book Sale,Sept.29;members only,7 to 9 Bogard,3:30-4:30 p.m.,Danville Library,400 Bookstore,2911 Hopyard Road,Pleasanton,off Valley. Front Street.The Burns/Gelb Documentary, p.m.(memberships available);Sept.30,10 a.m. The evenings are free,light refreshments will be served. to 4 p.m.;Sun.,Oct.1,noon to 3 p.m.More than 430-5:30 p.m.,Danville Library.Sat.,Oct.7: Call Cynthia Bryant at 925-398-8846 or email her at , teaching the Tao House Plays,l0 to 11:30 PoetsLane@comcast.net for more information. 40,000 books;prices range from 50 dents to a dollar;also videos and other media Pleasanton a.m.,Danville Library;Eugene O'Neill 101 Everything Poetry:poetry writing,performing and followed by tour,10:30 a.m,to 12:30 p.m. publishinggroupmeetsthefirstand third Saturda of ever Library,4000allld Nancyal Bering, g,.462-436 Y Y Information,call Nancy Bering,462-4368. with tour of Tao House beginning at 1:30 month,9am-11 am atTowne Center Books,555 Main Street, p.m.Walking tour of downtown Danville and Pleasanton,corner of Division Street.Call Cynthia Bryant the O'Neill Commemorative in Front Street at 925-398-8846 or email her at PoetsLane@comcast.net OCTOBER Park,1 p.m.begins at museum of the San for more information. Ramon Valley,205 Railroad Ave.Staging/ Century House Poetry Readings,first Sunday San Francisco Comedy Competition, Filming the Tao House Plays,l to 2:45 p.m., of even numbered months, ear-round,l to 3 m.at semifinals, Rita 7:30 easa Amador Theater, Y p• 1155 Santa Rita Rd.,Pleasanton.Pleasanton . moderated by Jackson Bryer,Danville Library. Century House,2401 Santa Rita Rd.,Pleasanton.Admis Reconsidering the Tao House Plays,2 to 4:45 sion$5. Civic Arts Presents program.$15,$20,$25. p.m.,Jackson Bryer,Danville Library.Sun.,Oct. Tri-Valle Woodcarvers Club meets the second 931 3444' Y Last of the Red Hot Lovers,Role Players 8:Understanding the O'Neill's Local Legacy,10 Saturday of the month,9:30 a.m.-noon,Pleasanton to 11:45 a.m.,with Margaret Styles,Danville Ensemble. to Nov. Friday and Saturday Senior Center ,5353 Sunol Blvd.,Pleasanton;10-11 a.m. Library.Noon,parade of Dalmatians and woodcarvin video speaker,I I to noon business 8 p.m.,Sunday 2 p.m.The Village Theatre, 9 ors P Blemielook-alike contest,advance registration meeting. Club is to anyone with an interest in 233 Front Street,Danville.Ticket information, 9 p Y $5,680 1-7089.Oct.6-8,exhibit of art by artists woodcarving or in learningwoodcarving.For informa- 314-3463. g Expressions,Fri., inspired by days at Tao House,Danville Fine Don Lewis&Youn tion,call Hal Copeman(evenings),846-0324. Arts Gallery,233 Front Street,,noon to 5 p.m. Farmers'Market,downtown Pleasanton ever Oct.6,7:30 p.m.Amador Theater,1155 Santa Y Information,820-1818,or www.eugeneoneill. Saturday,9 a.m.to 1 m.W.An Angela Street between First Rita Rd.,Pleasanton.Includes performances p• 9 org/events. and Main:Fresh produce,flowers,fish,etc. by troupe of award winning artists from Valley Dance Theatre, gala Tri-Valle Star Astronomy Club,meets Pleasanton schools.Civic Arts Presents program, Tri-Valley gazers y Adults$10,$14,$18;children$6$10,$14. performance and fund-raising,"Bringing , third Friday each month at the Unitarian Church,1893 Art to Life,"Saturday,October 7 starting at N.Vasco Rd.,Livermore.Meetingbe 7:30 m.Hall 931-3444. begins at p Heroes and Villains:A Classic Film 5 p.m.'Veterans Memorial Building,522. opens at 7 p.m.for casual conversations about the stars South L Street,Livermore.Hors d'oeuvres and the universe,meetingbegins at 7:30.For informa- Series,at the Pleasanton Public Library,400 9 and select wines.VDT's Company members tion,contact Frank Rogue at 443 7573. Old Bernal Ave.,7 p.m.Oct.5:The Best Years of 9 Our Lives.Candy Klaschus,film historian and will be performing several works from the Coordinator of the Humanities Program at Las company's repertoire,such as variations Positas College,will give an entertaining talk from La Bayacl&e,Pas De Quatre,Le Corsaire SEPTEMBER before each film is shown.Free admission.No and Don Quixote.Showcase a few newly- Bridging the Jazz Gap,6th Annual East Bay registration required.For more information, choreographed works by talented artists of. Traditional Jazz Festival.Sat.,Sept.30,10:45.am.to 7 please contact Penny Johnson at 925/931-3405. the Company.Tickets are$50.To'order tickets, p.m.Swiss Park,5911 Mowry Ave.,Newark.Supports Long Day's Journey Into Night,50th please call(925)243-0927.Group rates for 10 youth scholarships,youth programs and promotes the anniversary performance of Eugene O'Neill or more available.For additional information continuance of New Orleans style music.Devil Mountain Pulitzer Prize winning play by The Pear Avenue go to www.valleydancetheatre.com. JB,Jazzinators,Mission Gold JB,Natural Gas JB,San Theatre,7:30 p.m.Fri.,Oct,6 and Sat.,Oct.7;2 Antique Street Faire,Downtown Francisco Feetwarmers and youth bands.Vintage cos- p.m.Sun:,Oct.8 in the Old Barn at Tao House, Pleasanton,Sunday,Oct.8,from 8 a.m.to 4 tume contest,scholarship raffle,cakewalks.Tickets$20 Danville.Tickets$30.943-7469 or www.drea. p.m.on Main Street.Over 250 professional in advance,$25 at the door.510-657-0243.Make checks org.Fee includes transportation to the site. dealers;local stores participating.Sponsored payable to East Bay Traditional Jazz Society,5562 Paseo Presented in conjunction with 7th annual by Pleasanton Downtown Association. Navarro,Pleasanton,CA 94566. Eugene O'Neill Festival in Danville. Information 484-2199.No admission charge. Author Ayelet Waldman,October 8,2 p.m. California Independent Film Festival, Valley Concert Chorale Benefit concert, Livermore Library,1188 So.Livermore Avenue. October 25-29,presented by the California Saturday November 4,2006,7:30 pm-10:00 No admission charge.For more information call Independent Film Festival Association and pm,Featuring An Evening of Piano Music with 925-373-5505 Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association. Dan Glover.First Presbyterian Church,Livermore. Warlock Moon,filmed at the Del Valle Livermore Valley Wineries.Movie venues and Tickets $20 adults and$17 seniors.Students 18 Sanitarium on Arroyo Road,to be shown Oct.11 seminars located at the Vine Cinema and and under are free when accompanied by an at 7:30 p.m,at the Livermore Library,1188 So. participating Livermore wineries.For information adult. To purchase tickets,call(925)866-4003 Livermore Avenue.Part of Livermore Heritage call:(925)552-7335 or visit the official Festival and leave a message,or send email to tickets@ Guild History Lecture Series.$2 suggested web site:www.caindiefest.com. valleyconcertchorale.org. donation. Children's Theater Show:Blather,Blarney Harmony Crossroads Chorus,annual Pops Concert-Livermore Amador Symphony, &Balderdash;Friday,October 27,2006 at 7 pm; show.Nov.4 at 8 p.m.Livermore High School Pops at the Zoo,Oct.13 and 14 at The Barn, Saturday,October 28,2006 at 2 pm.Las Positas Theater,600 Maple St.,Livermore.Information Pacific Avenue,Doors open at 7:00 p.m.Concert College,Room 601.Free Admission.3033 Collier www.harmonycrossroads.org. begins at 8:00 p.m.Fund-raiser for the Symphony Canyon Road,Livermore.For further information Wine and Words,Sunday,Nov 5,2-4 p.m. produced by the Symphony Guild,with costumes, call the Performing Arts Events Line at 925-424- Martinelli Conference and Event Center,3585 sing-alongs,vocal soloists and orchestra pieces. 1100 or call Mary Campbell at 925-424-1118. Greenville Road Livermore.$5 admission For Seating is at long tables.Bring food and purchase Foothill Band Review,Sat.,Oct.28.Concert more information contact Livermore's 1 st Poet beverages.Reserved seating. $20.447-4924. competition at Amador Theater starting at 7:30 Laureate,Connie Post:connie@poetrypost.com. The Magic Flute,Livermore Valley Opera.Oct. a.m.Parade competition Main Street,Pleasanton. Featured Poets:Chad Sweeny and Lucille Lang Day. 14,15,21,22.Livermore Performing Arts Center, Field show and awards competition at Foothill Featured Poets will begin at 2 p.m.followed by a 600 Maple St.,Livermore.Ticket information,www. High School.www.foothillband.org. Short Break.Open Mic is from 3-4 p.m. livermorevalleyopera.com,or 925-960-9210.. And Then There Were None,Amador South Pacific,Pleasanton Playhouse,Oct. NOVEMBER Valley High School production of Agatha Christie's 20-Nov.5.Amador Theater,1155 Santa Rita mystery.Nov.9,11,16,17.7:30 p.m.Amador Rd.,Pleasanton.Curtain time on Fridays and Author Mary Roach,November 1,7 p.m. Theater,1155 Santa Rita Rd.,Pleasanton.Tickets Saturdays is 8 p.m.and Sundays 2 p.m. For tickets Livermore Library,1188 So.Livermore Avenue. and information khartman@pleasanton.kl2.ca.us. or information,call 462-2121 or go to www. No admission charge.For more information call Silent Film Classics,Bronco Billy,cowboy pleasantonplayhouse.com. 925-373-5505. star 1903-1918.Showing November 8,730 p.m. Teen Film Festival:An Independent View, Heroes and Villains:A Clasiic Film Livermore Library,1188 So.Livermore Avenue.Part entries are being accepted in this new event Series,at the Pleasanton Public Library,400 of Livermore Heritage Guild History Lecture Series. hosted by the Livermore Library.Screening and Old Bernal Ave.,7 p.m.Nov.2:All about Eve. $2 suggested donation. reception Wed.,Oct.18 at 7 p.m.Teens between Candy Klaschus,film historian and Coordinator of Macbeth,Las Positas College,Fridays&Saturdays, ages of 12 and 18 may submit up to 2 original the Humanities Program at Las Positas College, November 10,11,17,18,2006 at 8 pm;Sunday, films in DVD format no more than 5 minutes in will give an entertaining talk before each film is November 19,2006 at 2 pm.Tickets$10.00 length.Entries will be viewed by Glenn Davis,Ted shown.Free admission.No registration required. general,$7 seniors/students.Tickets can be Kaye,Joe Madden,and Sandra Myers.Selected For more information,please contact Penny purchased at the campus bookstore,3033 Collier films will be critiqued the night of the festival.In Johnson at 925/931-3405. Canyon Road,at the door,or at Fine Fretted Friends addition,films will be shown during ArtWalk 2006 Holiday Craft Fair,Livermore Laboratory in Livermore.For further information call the in downtown Livermore and at a special screening Employee Services Association(LLESA) Performing Arts Events Line at 925-424-1100 or at the Robert Livermore Community Center. presents the annual Holiday Craft Fair,Thursday, call Mary Campbell at 925-424-1118. Information,373-5500,ext.5583. November 2,2006 from 11:00 a.m.-7:00 Del Valle Fine Arts:November 11,2006: ArtWalk 2006,downtown Livermore,October p.m.at the Livermore Barn on Pacific Avenue. Robert Silverman Plays Mozart.8 p.m.in the First 2 1,10 a.m.to 5 p.m.Fine arts,local wines, Handmade crafts by local artisans. Food will Presbyterian Church of Livermore,Fourth and refreshments.Free admission.Tri-Val ley Artists also be available for purchase at the event South L Streets.Tickets$18 general admission, Guild.Information,243-0424 or www.tvag.org. by Amelia's Deli of Pleasanton. For more $16 seniors over 62 and full-time students;free Art Banner Auction,Oct.21,evening, information contact the LLESA office at 422- for children and students through high school. downtown Livermore,2060 Second Street. 9402• For ticket information phone:925-447-2752 or Information,373-1795,www.livermoredowntown. 925-443-5470. com. Winter Concerts at Old St.Raymond's Church, Justin Hellman Trio performs Music in the 6600 Donlon Way,Dublin.Sat.,Nov.11,7 p.m. Jazz Tradition,October 22,2 p.m.Livermore Library, Rafael Manriquez and His"La Amaranto Duo."$10 1188 So.Livermore Avenue.No admission charge. adults,$5 for youth.Call 452-2100 for Information. For more information call 925-373-5505. — Lithorama 2006,show and sale Nov.18-29, 4th Annual US Bank Art Show,Oct. The Barn,3131 Pacific Ave.,Livermore.Livermore 25-Nov.11,Open during bank hours,US Bank, Valley Lithophiles Gem&Mineral Club.Sat.10 a.m. 2125 Second Street,LivermoreJudged show. to 5 p.m.,Sun.10 a.m.to 4 p.m.Adults$3,under Sponsored by Livermore Art Association.Free 12 free with adult.Dealers with gems,minerals, apt admission.Information,449-9927 or www. beads and findings,jewelry,equipment and :ltl livermoreartassociation.org. ) much.Educational displays from several northern Downtown Trick or Treat Night, California clubs,including the special"glow room," Livermore,Thurs.,Oct.26,5 to 9 p.m. with a rainbow of colors.Demonstrations,prizes, Free admission.Sponsored by Livermore refreshments.Information at www.lithophile.com Downtown,Inc.Information 373-1795,www. or contact Bill Beiriger at 443-5769. livermoredowntown.com. I The Independent Magazine 61 2006valleY ca lenda r Shakespeare at Unitarian Church,Nov. Del Valle Fine Arts,November 25,2006:Paul DECEMBER 17 and 18.Actors from Oregon Shakespeare Festival Jacobs,young master of the organ.8 p.m.in the perform.$20 (tickets go on sale in October).Unitarian First Presbyterian Church of Livermore,Fourth and The Edlos,holiday music,A Capella,Fri.,Dec. Universalist Church,1893 NoNasco Rd.,Livermore. South t Streets.Tlckets$18 general admission, 1,8 p.m.AmadorTheater,1155 Santa Rita Rd., 447-8747. $16 seniors over 62 and full-time students;free Pleasanton.Civic Arts Presents.Adults$10,$14, Pleasanton Community Concert Band, for children and students through high school. $18;child$6,$10,.$14.931-3444. Children's/Family Concert,November 19,Sunday,2 p.m., For ticket information phone:925-447-2752 or Speech Tournament,Las Positas College, AmadorTheater,1155 Santa Rita Road,Pleasanton.No 925-443-5470. Room 711.Friday,December 1,1 pm to 5 pm. admission charge. Room 711,3033 Collier Canyon Road.For further information call the Performing Arts Events Line at 925-424-1100 or call Mary Campbell at 925- 424-1118. ' M ;Dance Performance,Las Positas College, f The Independent Friday&Saturday,December_7,2,2006 at 8 pm. '1 Magazine for Sunday,December 3,2006 at 4 pm.Tickets are $10.00 general,$7 seniors/students.Tickets can November 2006 be purchased at the campus bookstore,3033 Collier Canyon Road,at the door,or at Fine Fretted. Friends in Livermore.For further information call r • a ' the Performing Arts Events Line at 925-424-1100 F ' or call Mary Campbell of 925-424-1118. Livermore-Amador Symphony,Sat., ` Dec.2,8 p.m.First Presbyterian Church,4th and L Publication Date Is October 26th. Streets,Livermore.Works by Shostakovich;Festive Deadline to submit news or Overture;Ippolitov-Inavov:Caucasian Sketches advertising is October 4th Suite No.l; Bach:Brandenburg Concerto No 2, James Tinsley,trumpet;Sowerby:Concert Piece Fax: 925-447-0212 for Organ and.Orchestra,Janet Holmes,organ; Mail: PO Box 1198, and Mozart:Symphony No.40.Ticket information, Livermore,CA 94551 447-4924. Email: editmail@compuserve.com Music Department Recital,Las Positas . College.Wednesday,December 6,2006 at 12:30 For information,please call pm Free admission. 3033 Collier Canyon Road, 925-447-8700 Livermore.For further information call the Performing Arts Events Line at 925-424-1100 or call Mary Campbell at 925-424-1118. Heroes and Villains:A Classic Film Series,at the Pleasanton Public Library,400 Old 4 I Bernal Ave.,7 p.m.Dec.7:Strangers on a Train. f ' ' Is " Candy Klaschus,film historian and Coordinator of ` the Humanities Program at Las Positas College, '? will give an.entertaining talk before each film is shown.Free admission.No registration required. r ' For more information,please contact Penny 7 r r Johnson at 925/931-3405. The Nutcracker,Jim Gamble's Puppets.Fri., Dec.8,7:360.m.AmadorTheater,1155 Santa Rita Rd.,Pleasanton.Program traces the original classic ballet story.Civic Arts Presents program. Adults ,. ► $10,.$14,$18;child$6,$10,$14.931-3444. 1 , , Valley Concert Chorale,John Rutter's %.y "Gloria"and Donald McCullough's"CaniteTuba: a $` A Christmas Triptych," Saturday,December 9 i at 8P .m.Tri itY Lutheran Church,Pleasantonasanton& Sunday,December 10 at 3 p.m.,First Presbyterian ChurchAth&L Streets,Livermore.Tickets $20 adults and$17 seniors.Students 18 and under are- s free when accompanied by an adult. To purchase tickets,call(925)866-4003 and leave a message, YLI ' ' ' ' ' or send email to tickets@valleyconcertchorale.org. 62 October 2006 Cantabella Children's Chorus,winter Will Durst and Friends,Big Fat Year End Kiss WINERY EVENTS concert Sat.,Dec.9,Valley Community Church, Off Comedy Show XIII.Thurs.,Dec.29,8 p.m.Amador Pleasanton.Further details at http://cantabella.org. Theater,1155 Santa Rita Rd.,Pleasanton.Political satirist Elliston Vineyards,Murder Mystery in the Mansion, Pleasanton Community Concert Band, and comedy appropriate for adult audiences.Civic Arts Sat.,Oct.28,7 p.m.Reservations required through www. Holiday Concert,December 10,Sunday,2:00-4:00 Presents.$15,$20,$25.921-3444. mysteriesforhire.com/events. $125/person for a cocktail p.m.,Amador Theater,1155 Santa Rita Road, party guaranteed to die for including hors d'oeuvres, Pleasanton.No admission charge. Elliston California champagne,premium wine selections, Instrumental Jazz Concert,Las Positas assorted soft drinks,mineral waters,sparkling apple College.Sunday,December 10,2006 at 7 pm.Tickets cider and Murder! Entrance to the mansion will begin are$10.00 general,$7 seniors/students,Tickets can be purchased at the campus bookstore,3033 Collier Canyon Road,at the door,or at Fine Fretted Friends in Livermore.For further information call the . • • Performing Arts Events Line at 925-424-1100 or call ®J Mary Campbell at 925-424-1118. Ravenswood Victorian Yuletide,December . • 10,hosted by Ravenswood Progress League and LARPD.Music,entertainment,carriage rides,food, crafts for sale.Free admission.Ravenswood Historic - `- .� We know it isn't easy to invite someone into your home to provide home care.You'll interview and Site,2647 Arroyo Road,Livermore. select any caregiver we refer to you. Orchestra Concert,Las Positas College. Wednesday,December 13,2006 at 8 pm.Tickets At Visiting Angels character matters in caregivers! ® Up to 24 Hour Care 0 Light Housework are$10.00 general,$7 seniors/students,Tickets ® Hygiene Assistance 13 Companionship can be purchased at the campus bookstore,3033 0 Meal Preparation m Family Respite Care Collier Canyon Road,at the door,or at Fine Fretted Friends in Livermore.For further information call the FREE In-Home Consultation Performing Arts Events Line at 925-424-1100 or call Mary Campbell at 925-424-1118. l'�G� Vocal Jazz Concert,Las Positas College,Friday,. V Ut Ange l& � O uvmo...»rwce se�mcea December 15,2006 at 8 pm.Tickets are$10.00 1 Senior Homecare general,$7 seniors/students.Tickets can be 925-443-1000 purchased at the campus bookstore,3033 Collier ' • keithbeck@visitingangels.com Canyon Road,at the door,or at Fine Fretted Friendsy I� • • • Locally Owned and Operated in Livermore.For further information call the • Performing Arts Events Line at 925-424-1100 or call Mary Campbell at 925-424-1118. Sing-It-Yourself Messiah,Valley Concert Chorale,Fri.,Dec.15,7:30 p.m.First Presbyterian Church,4th and L Streets,Livermore.For more information,visit www.valleyconcertchorale.org. S E E E I N G THE MOST I M P OO R TA N T Choir Concert,Las Positas College performance. Saturday,December 16,2006 at 8 pm.Location H1 OO M E S I N THE A R I E A... YOURS lo to be announced.Tickets are$10.00 general,$7 seniors/students.Tickets can be purchased at the estateWhatever ur real campus bookstore,3033 Collier Canyon Road,at • -• the door,or at Fine Fretted Friends in Livermore.For I A It 1, you --• a proven professional further information call the Performing Arts Events experience an• knowledge to help Line at 925-424-1100 or call Mary Campbell at •u achieve them. Ask any • 925-424-1118. �y_ f my Valley Dance Theatre,Nutcracker ballet.Dec. previous and ll • 16 at 2 and 7 p.m.,Dec.17,2 p.m.,Dec.19 and 22 at 7 p.m.Livermore High School Performing Arts P •MMITTED • MAKING YOUR\ Theater,600 Maple St.,Livermore.Ticket information TRANSACTION AS SMOOTHPOSSIBLE! www.valleydancetheatre.com. Dream of the Snow Queen,Livermore Judy P i k i n School Dance,showcases variety of dance ABRI, . • - I N T E RO. styles.Performances Dec.20 and 21,7 p.m.Tickets available for purchase Nov.4 and 5,from 3 to 5 p.m., •25) 487-5065 RVICE S 1635 Chestnut St.,Suite C,Livermore,or call 245- Homes@JudyPipkin.com 9322 after Nov.1l.Tickets are$13 adults,$9 ages 10 www.Judy_ ipkin.com Call me for all your real estate needs I and under and seniors 65 and up.Reserved seating. Tickets available at the door. The Independent Magazine 63 Band Plans a Variety of Concerts The Pleasanton Community Concert this special holiday will performed. The final concert of this year will be Band, under the direction of Bob Williams, A Children's/Family Concert will be the annual Holiday Concert on Sunday, will be performing a variety of music in the presented on.Sunday, November 19, from December 10, 2006, from 2:00-4:00 PM at concerts planned for the 2006 fall season. 2:00-3:00 PM at the Amador Theatre, 1 l 55 the Amador Theatre, 1155 Santa Rita Road, On Sunday, November 5, at 1:00 PM, Santa Rita Road, Pleasanton.Tunes for kid's Pleasanton. Come and enjoy the music of the Band will provide the music for the is the theme of the concert. Musical selec- - the holidays. Veteran's Day Parade and Celebration.The tions will be performed that young people All concerts are free. Celebration will be held at.Veteran's Park, know and will enjoy: located at Peters Avenue and Division Street in downtown Pleasanton. Music familiar to CALENDAR at 7 pm with festivities starting at 7:30 pm.A a _ FROST Holiday Evening at Elliston,Dec.8 and 15,7:30 to 9:30 p.m.Two cocktail parties for groups of 2-35;live music,cheese and chocolate pairings ` with our wines. $65.00 per person includes live holiday music,hors d'oeuvres,chocolate fondue, .+ champagne and wine! Reservations and payment ` required ahead of time. Flight Night, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.third Thursday of each month,meet with a winemaker and taste your way through his showcased flight of wines. — SOLD 1 The Restaurantat Wente Vineyards,5050 Arroyo Road For reservations call 925-456-2450 or online ' at www.wentevineyards.com.' Holidays in the Vineyards,Saturday& j N ... Sunday,December 2nd&3rd,2006.All of the 444N O wineries throw open their doors and offer special N _ -T music,gifts and holiday experiences.Award- winning ward winning wines are offered along with gourmet foods,specially wrapped gift boxes and special / holiday treats.Many of the wineries offer special barrel tastings and holiday wine pairings.Charity ' abounds as toys and warm coats are collected at ' ' ' • many wineries to be shared with families in need , , - • , , - • in our community.There is no admission charge. �;�V .- , , , • Call 925-447=WINE(9463)for more information. Friends are FREE in October!. Code IND106 ' Bring a friend whose never been to Dinner MyWay before toyour session ' INNERo and they can make anyone available meal for FREE! I . We solve the 5 pm question, "What's for Dinner?" I In less than 2 hoursyou can prepare a months north of meals i ' 1989 Santa Rita Rd.,Ste. G that are ready to cook and serve for under$4.00 a serving. ' Pleasanton, CA 94566 Satisfacion Guaranteed! ' (925)485-4286 ' Justgo online to u1u11v.dinnermylvay.com to makeyour �- ' www.dizI1ermy"y.com reservation and chooseyour menu items. ' 64 October 2006 Worrymfree gET[p( �Q fav the neKt 4^ Y ^ ..WRti 4 years , w . ^ r A,4, 9 Exclusively at Carpet One Floor & Home SAVE NOW on brand name hardwood, ° laminate, tile, carpet, vinyl & more. ® ° PLUS, Pay Nothing until January 2008 *On all products.Subject to credit approval.See store ford eta i Is. CARIFET GMEO&MOMEFLOOR SERVING THE TRI-VALLEY (� • D D LIVERMORE AREA FOR OVER 0H° 1917 First Street, Livermore, CA 94550 36 YEARS! (925) 455-9210 The ONE store for your perfect floor.'" Store Hours: Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. 10am-6pm • Wed. 10am-7pm • Sat. 10am-5pm • Sun. 12noon-5pm i I GUIDED BY PRIN;CIPL!ES OF TRUST, RESPECT AND INTEGRITY, WE EMPOWER PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS. I t n; Penny Piston Lori Harrison Lynn Borley Gail Henderson Loraine Sneed Broker/Owner Broker/Owner Adminilstrative Manager REALTOR® REALTOR® i I I ^ k Y I Michael Dosanjh ConjTurner Rosemary Gibson Karen Crowson Cathy Challand REALTOR® REALTOR® REALTOR® REALTOR® REALTOR® AI 4-1 Alex Angeles Lisa Woodson Ken Piston Barbara Richardson Darren)Bauer REALTOR(D REALTOR® REALTOR® REALTOR® REALTOR@ t j3 syr ="—'"fir °.• � '��w1 -- I� Tom Lindeland Jeff Dunaway Michael LeBow Susan Pardini Karen Wilson-Fontaine 4� REALTOR® Broker Associate REALTOR@ REALTOR® Broker Associate INTER O IS THE FASTEST GROWING P� REAL ESTATE COMPANY! IN THE NATION AS REPORTED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALORS° T 1 N T E RO ► . VISIT OUR NEWESTI OFFICE AT 1601 Railroad Avenue Livermore (925) 960-6700 REAL ESTATE SERVICESm 7 Iu 1,p,,,d-11V0 1-d()p'r,'7 ` WWW.INTEROLIVERMORE.COM i Z D a n CL m C� mzy N ° rCD CDD C a m ci N m L N p 0 O N cD CD / O CD i1NCD CDD ' C3v CSD O Z.CD ` A CT a- ° oco m m 2 3 c¢ 4` @ x m N CD ° rn •1 c ¢ ° # � r CD m CD -, CD N ° m m mCD Z (D GI r ,y, CD � � ¢T Tn n0 ., CD [L n N N4a N C7 N {c ° O_ ❑ ar O Chi r`" C ni ,-r O a N 3 c-, m CD CD iv "1 1 0, O t C C -ti r'1 II• tC1 o Q o .,3 CD- 0 7> a CD y 51 1 v m c O 6 O N Q Sl.L N 10 p 0 .P- D D Q 0 O 0t¢l v co T G O O 0 p G cL . o o N m Ul N O ca +' U. O C co C: U- ~iCt, O -0 O Op �' Cfl ca T. ttS N O (6.. O N. N G -:6 Q C co t6 N' 0 t. 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The location of the subject property is within the unincorporated territory of the County of Contra Costa County, State of California,generally identified below(a more precise description may be examined in the Office of the Director of Community Development, County Administration Building, Martinez, California): The location of the subject site is 1090 Victorine Road,Livermore. For purposes of compliance with the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental Significance (no Environmental Impact Report required)has been issued for this project. If you.challenge the project in court,you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the County at, or prior to,the public hearing. Prior to the hearing, Community Development Department staff will be available on Tuesday, October 24, 2006, in Room 108,Administration Building, 651 Pine Street,Martinez,to meet with any interested parties in order to(1)answer questions; (2)review the hearing procedures used by the Board; (3) clarify the issues being considered by the Board; and(4)provide an opportunity to identify,resolve, or narrow any differences which remain in dispute. If you wish to attend this meeting with staff,please call Mike Henn, Community Development Department, at(925) 335-1205 by 3:00 p.m. on Monday, October 23, 2006 to confirm your participation. Date: October 10, 2006 John Cullen, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and County /Administrator By C� Katherine Sinclair,Deputy Clerk BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA AFFIDAVIT OF MAILING IN THE MATTER OF Appeal by BRUCE and DALE SPRINGER,(Applicants&Owners);County File #LP042118;of the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission's action denying special events in conjunction with the approval of the Land Use Permit for a winery and olive oil mill,on an approximately 23 acre property located at 1090 Victorine Road,west side, north of Highland Road,Tassajara/North Livermore Area,(A-80)(ZA:W-22M)(CT: 3551.03)(Parcel 006-180-019). Notice of hearing for Tuesday, October 24, 2006 at 1:15 pm, was mailed this day, Thursday, October 11, 2006. I declare under penalty of perjury that I am now, and at all times herein mentioned have been, a citizen of the United States, over age 18; and that today I deposited Certified Mail with Contra Costa County Central Service for mailing by the United States Postal Service in Martinez, California, first class postage fully prepaid, a copy of the hearing notice, on the above entitled matter to the following: Please See Attached List I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct, at Martinez, California. Dated: October 12, 2006 Katherine Sinclair, Deputy Clerk 6170027 6150001 6180021 7Z LIVESTOCK COMPANY LLC LEONARDINI MARGERET TRE HERMANSON SUSAN A 4788 BEL ROMA 2001 VICTORINE RD 1080 VICTORINE RD LIVERMORE CA 94551 LIVERMORE CA 94551 LIVERMORE CA 94551 6150018 .80019 WRIGHT EDWIN E &JUDITH TRE RINGER R BRUCE&DALE ANN 2000 VICTORINE RD yl !0 VICTORINE RD LIVERMORE CA 94551 �i I '``( '\ERMORE CA 94551 6180012 6'� k Soil Conservation Service REINSTEIN PROPERTIES L P R1 1of Land and Conservation 8201 HIGHLAND RD 82i Street,MS13-71 LIVERMORE CA 94551 LIQ `O into, CA 95814 ` CC Resource Conservation District San I+ /�') ' ` ,C i ZJ� vermore 5552 Clayton Road 15001 c _-Uch Livermore Avenue Concord, CA 94521 San R4 J Livermore, CA 94550 Russell&Eloise Leonardini. Christopher Wright Linda Leonardini c/o 2001 Victorine Road 2002 Victorine Road c/o 2001 Victorine Road Livermore, CA 94551 Livermore e,CA 94551 Livermore, CA 94551 Vera Reinstein P.O.Box 826 Stacy Diaz Jeffrey Hicks 8100 Cormeal Road c/o 2001 Victorine Road 1075 Victorine Road Livermore, CA 94551 Livermore,CA 94551 Livermore, CA 94551 0 Dwaine&Janet Montes Timothy&Chau Allen Evelyn Hilbert 8200 Highland Road 2045 Victorine Road 9050 Highland Road Livermore, CA 94551 Livermore,CA 94551 Livermore, CA 94551 William Mazzacco Michael Murray Tim Wood 21 Chestnut Place 11700 Morgan Territory Road 100 Twin Oaks Lane Danville, CA 94506 Livermore, CA 94551 Livermore, CA 94551 Dennis DeSilva John Bowles S. Splendorio 3144 Roundhill Rd. 4788 Be]Roma Rd. Hoge, Fenton,Jones&Appel Alamo, CA 94507 Livermore,CA 94551 6155 Stoneridge Dr. #200 Pleasanton, CA 94588 �; { i � � � - "Contra Costa Times Legals" To KSinc@cob.cccounty.us <cctlegals@cctimes.com> cc 10/11/2006 11:28 AM Please respond to bcc cctlegals@cctimes.com Subject Publication Request-Springer THIS E-MAIL CONTAINS PERTINENT INFORMATION; PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY IN ITS ENTIRETY. Good Morning. If you have any questions regarding the legal notice confirmed below,please reference the LEGAL NUMBER provided. Only e-mail to cctlegals(i�cctimes.com regarding Contra Costa Times, Concord Transcript, or Contra Costa Sun legal notices. ** LEGAL SCHEDULE CONFIRMATION** TYPE: In-Column Liner, Classified Section LEGAL NUMBER: 6872 PO#: F05508 2015 Publication: CCT Run Date(s): 10/14 Legal Acct#: 200 4197 Total Amount: $170.80 FOR YOUR INFORMATION-Revisions/Cancellations: I will need a cancellation request referencing the LEGAL NUMBER—or all changes attached in a final draft Microsoft Word Document—e-mailed to cctlegals(d,)cctimes.com by no later than 4 PM tomorrow, Thurs., 10/12. Otherwise, the wording, of the legal will publish as you e-mailed. Thanks! Anashia Lloyd Legal Advertising Coordinator (925) 943-8019 (925) 943-8359—fax Contra Costa Times ATTN: Legal Dept. P.O. Box 4718 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 cctlegals@cctimes.com Kathy Sinclair/COB/CCC To cctlegals@cctimes.com 11/02/2005 10:00 AM cc ksinc@cob.cccounty.us ' a bcc Subject Publication Request-Springer Hi Anashia, Please publish the attached legal notice in the CCTimes: Springer One day only,.Saturday October 14, 2006 Reference PO#: 2015 Please confirm receipt of request. Should you have any questions, please call me at the number listed below. Thank you, Kathy Sinclair Clerk of the Board of Supervisors Contra Costa County 925.335.1902 EtEiT. Springer 102406.doc NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON PLANNING MATTERS LIVERMORE AREA NOTICE is hereby given that on Tuesday October 24,2006 at 1:15 p.m. in the County Administration Building, 651 Pine Street, Room 107 (Corner of Pine and Escobar Streets), Martinez, California, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing to consider the following planning matter: Appeal by BRUCE and DALE SPRINGER, (Applicants &Owners); County File n #LP042118;of the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission's action 0 4 G , denying special events in conjunction with the armed Land Use Permit for a winery and olive oil mill,on an approximately 23 acre property located at 1090 Victorine Road,west side,north of Highland Road, Tassajara/North Livermore Area, (A-80) (ZA: W-22M)(CT: 3551.03)(Parcel 006-180-019). The location of the subject property is within the unincorporated territory of the County of Contra Costa County, State of California,generally identified below(a more precise description may be examined in the Office of the Director of Community Development, County Administration Building, Martinez, California): The location of the subject site is 1090 Victorine Road, Livermore. For purposes of compliance with the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental Significance (no Environmental Impact Report required)has been issued for this project. If you challenge the project in court,you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice,or in written correspondence delivered to the County at,or prior to,the public hearing. Prior to the hearing, Community Development Department staff will be available on Tuesday, October 24, 2006,in Room 108,Administration Building, 651 Pine Street, Martinez,to meet with any interested } � � n _ f � •� j K . .,. �. _ � ., ,3 -• .._ ., .. ! .. NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON PLANNING MATTERS LIVERMORE AREA NOTICE is hereby given that on Tuesday October 24,2006 at 1:15 p.m. in the County Administration Building, 651 Pine Street, Room 107 (Corner of Pine and Escobar Streets),Martinez, California,the Coutra Costa County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing to consider the following planning matter: Appeal by BRUCE and DALE SPRINGER, (Applicants & Owners); County File #LP042118; of the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission's action denying special events in conjunction with the approval of the Land Use Permit for a winery and olive oilmill, on an approximately 23 acre property located at 1090 Victorine Road,west side,north of Highland Road,Tassajara/North Livermore Area, (A-80) (ZA: W-22M) (CT: 3551.03) (Parcel 006-180-019). The location of the subject property is within the unincorporated territory of the County of Contra Costa County, State of California,generally identified below(a more precise description may be examined in the Office of the Director of Community Development, County Administration Building,Martinez, California): The location of the subject site is 1090 Victorine Road, Livermore. For purposes of compliance with the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental Significance (no Environmental Impact Report required)has been issued for this project. If you.challenge the project in court,you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the County at, or prior to, the public hearing. Prior to the hearing,Community Development Department staff will be available on Tuesday,October 24;2006, in Room 108,Administration Building, 651 Pine Street,Martinez, to meet with any interested parties'in order to (1)answer questions; (2)review the hearing procedures used by the Board; (3) clarify the issues being considered by the Board; and(4)provide an opportunity to identify,resolve,or narrow any differences which remain in dispute. If you wish to attend this meeting with staff,please call Mike Henn, Community Development Department, at(925) 335-1205 by 3:00 p.m. on Monday, October 23, 2006 to confirm your participation. Date: October 10, 2006 John Cullen,Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and County (Administrator By C� _ Katherine Sinclair,Deputy Clerk NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON PLANNING MATTERS LIVERMORE AREA NOTICE is hereby given that on Tuesday October 24,2006 at 1:15 p.m. in the County Administration Building, 651 Pine Street,Room 107 (Corner of Pine and Escobar Streets),Martinez, California, the Coutra Costa County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing to consider the following planning matter: Appeal by BRUCE and DALE SPRINGER, (Applicants & Owners); County File #LP042118; of the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission's action denying special events in conjunction with the approval of the Land Use Permit for a winery and olive oil mill, on an approximately 23 acre property located at 1090 Victorine Road,west side,north of Highland Road,Tassajara/North Livermore Area, (A-80) (ZA: W-22M) (CT: 3551.03) (Parcel 006-180-019). The location of the subject property is within the unincorporated territory of the County of Contra Costa County, State of California, generally identified below(a more precise description may be examined in the Office of the Director of Community Development, County Administration Building,Martinez, California): The location of the subject site is 1090 Victorine Road,Livermore. For purposes of compliance with the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental Significance (no Environmental Impact Report required)has been issued for this project. If yov.challenge the project in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice,or in written correspondence delivered to the County at, or prior to, the public hearing. Prior to the hearing, Community Development Department staff will be available on Tuesday, October 24, 2006, in Room 108, Administration Building, 651 Pine Street,Martinez,to meet with any interested parties in order to(1)answer questions; (2)review the hearing procedures used by the Board; (3)clarify the issues being considered by the Board; and(4)provide an opportunity to identify,resolve, or narrow any differences which remain in dispute. If you wish to attend this meeting with staff,please call Mike Henn, Community Development Department, at(925) 335-1205 by 3:00 p.m. on Monday, October 23, 2006 to confirm your participation. Date: October 10, 2006 John Cullen, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and County Administrator By Katherine Sinclair,Deputy Clerk NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON PLANNING MATTERS LIVERMORE AREA NOTICE is hereby given that on Tuesday October 24,2006 at 1:15 p.m. in the County Administration Building, 651 Pine Street,Room 107 (Comer of Pine and Escobar Streets),Martinez, California, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing to consider the following planning matter: Appeal by BRUCE and DALE SPRINGER, (Applicants &Owners); County File #LP042118; of the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission's action denying special events in conjunction with the approval of the Land Use Permit for a winery and olive oil mill, on an approximately 23 acre property located at 1090 Victorine Road,west side,north of Highland Road, Tassajara/North Livermore Area, (A-80) (ZA: W-22M)(CT: 3551.03)(Parcel 006-180-019). The location of the subject property is within the unincorporated territory of the County of Contra Costa County, State of California,generally identified below(a more precise description may be examined in the Office of the Director of.Community Development, County Administration Building,Martinez,- California): The location of the subject site is 1090 Victorine Road, Livermore. For purposes of compliance with the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental Significance (no Environmental Impact Report required)has been issued for this project. If yov challenge the project in court,you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the County at, or prior to, the public hearing. Prior to the hearing, Community Development Department staff will be available on Tuesday, October 24, 2006, in Room 108, Administration Building, 651 Pine Street,Martinez,to meet with any interested parties in order to (1)answer questions; (2)review the hearing procedures used by the Board; (3) clarify the issues being considered by the Board; and(4)provide an opportunity to identify, resolve,or narrow any differences which remain in dispute. If you wish to attend this meeting with staff,please call Mike Henn, Community Development Department, at(925) 335-1205 by 3:00 p.m. on Monday, October 23, 2006 to confirm your participation. Date: October 10, 2006 John Cullen, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and County /Administrator By U Katherine Sinclair,Deputy Clerk r. « .x 3. r • • e �. -z z � a� fi - a • .,r ,ate,-, � ,, �,ws '�'- x w w _"3rvxx _ n x, s � , a, r. 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Contra Costa Wine Grape and Olive Growers Association 3130 "D" Ba{four Road #296 Brentwood, California 94513 Board of Directors Tom Powers, Chairman David Navarrette, Treasurer Aaron Meadows Lary Enos Dale Giessman Don Delia Nina Ed Rodriguez April 17, 2006 SAN RAMON VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION Dear Chairperson: As Chairman of the Wine Growers Association of the County I would like to ask you to support the application of Bruce and Dale Springer for their winery and tasting room. As a grower and recent recipient of a winery permit in the Alhambra Valley area (between Martinez, Lafayette, Orinda and Pinole) of Contra Costa County, I know that this type of activity is one of the only ways farmers can continue to apply their trade. In addition a winery creates little impact on the surrounding mmunnifif Uvi , � :tel have found that such a facility brings a positive attraction to the area as opposed ^ w bringing negative impacts_ The fears of Craft and otlw impa-r-f—s from u-mors have turned out to be uneventful. If Contra Costa County wants to preserve open spate adi.-ment to suburtkann communities, farming and some farm related commercial enterprises is one cost effective way to do it from a public expense prose_ Please support your county farm enterprises_ sp Ily submitted, om Powers • Chairman Susan Hermanson 1080 Victorine Road Livermore- Ca 94551 925-44- 3-4- 835 Fcbruanr 17,2005 To whom it may concern: I am a landonyner and neighbor of Bruce and Dale Springer on Victorine Road in southern Contra Costa County. Asa nen olive grower I am ver} excited about the possibility of an olive mill being permitted on our road Olive presses and u inerics are important steps in allonying small-scale farms such as our to exist in today's environment. Bsy responsibly developing facilities and resources such as these our success will be grcathy increased This would be an enhancement to the neighborhood and a veru°positive message that as a county we are looking fomard in our approach to promoting agriculture. Sincerely. (, Susan Hermanson