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Comment Letter St Jorge Winery "Site Approval Application"PA-7200063 • Removal of the structures now in place which have been illegally built and operated in violation of San Joaquin County Code and the 2005 permit. C. Close The business conduct described herein flouts the law and is unacceptable. Since 2005,the Vierras have ran their St.Jorge Winery as part of the private party and public entertainment industry,not the wine industry. They have an operating permit which allows only(a)`Seine-tastine'in a wine-tasting room,and(b)four events a year,with a maximum of 25 people an event,with"catered-in"food in two buildings,with no"kitchen equipment"or"eating areas'allowed. That's it and that's all. But they have advertised and operated their"small winery-permitted"business as a full service event destination"for use by up to 200 guests at weddings,banquets, small gatherings and personal gatherings,birthdays,anniversary and meetings, featuring national talent in a summer concert series held in an amphitheater,with food service provided by a chef from Italy, with an exquisite suite/caretaker dwelling unit for rent,etc.,etc. These are not advertisements for the wine industry. The Viertas have conducted these expansive"events"more than four times a year for years. In so doing,they have disturbed their neighbors mightily,who have formally complained to the Development Department and the Planning Commission. They have engaged in a well- planned construction campaign,more than doubling what they were permitted,and they have hired out these fully-built,commercial facilities for public use"without benefit of proper permits,"placing the public at risk. Throughout it all,they have acted illegally under San Joaquin County and state laws. Now they have been caught. So now they ask the San Joaquin County Planning Commission to perform hypocrisy by approving their illegally built and operated facilities. They show no contrition for their long- running illegal activities. Instead,they want to bring up to 40,000 people a year into an area the County has zoned "A/G(General Agriculture)"and"OS/RC(Resource Conservation)"under the rubric of "marketing events"and"special events." This averages out to over three-quarters of a thousand people a week. This business conduct is not"accessory and are subordinate to the primary agricultural use"as required by the San Joaquin County Code. Government should not approve of illegal behavior by rewarding it with legal authority to continue so behaving. The government's duty is to enforce its laws,so as to protect the health and safety of the public and the integrity of the marketplace. 23