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TODD A.FRANKLIN, D.D.S. <br /> November 19, 2013 <br /> San Joaquin County Community Development Department <br /> 1801 E. Hazelton Avenue <br /> Stockton, CA 95205 <br /> Re: Site Approval Application #PA-1300186 <br /> Dear Mr. Hatef, <br /> I believe it is important for the San Joaquin County Planning Commission to take a very <br /> hard look at the above mentioned application. The intent here is not block the progress of <br /> entrepreneurial aspirations but to apply sound planning decisions based on the total <br /> impact to the rural community this application presents. <br /> We have been property owners off Schmiedt Rd. for over 15 years. We chose to live in <br /> the country for multiple reasons. Primarily for the tranquility it offers. We love to hear <br /> stories from the Schmiedt family about how their Grandparents homesteaded the area <br /> where our current residence sits. We hope to pass those stories on to our children. We <br /> are opposing this application for many reasons: <br /> 1. The proposed site is to be situated at the end of a county road. The <br /> entire E. Schmiedt Rd. is measured at 16 feet 10 inches from paved <br /> edge to paved edge. There is an additional unimproved 600 feet of E. <br /> Schmiedt Rd. that must be brought up to county minimums. The <br /> existing road is not up to county standards based on the proposed <br /> project and increase in retail and commercial traffic. There is not an <br /> adequate cul-de-sac design proposed. There are major traffic safety <br /> concerns that have not been addressed. <br /> 2. The scope of the project, 15,000 sqft in total, does not fit into the <br /> aspects of a boutique winery but as a medium to large production <br /> facility. The current Winery Ordinance is under review and we feel <br /> this is an inappropriate site for this facility. <br /> 3. The Planning Commission can easily review county maps to identify <br /> where facilities of this size are typically located. On main county <br /> thoroughfares, not at the end of a minor, dead end county road. <br /> 4. There is no mention of a use permit. The application mentions a <br /> "proposed"limit to the number of events and no amplified music. As <br /> we know from current issues regarding wineries in a rural environment <br /> (i.e. St. Jorge Winery), once a winery is permitted, there is a challenge <br /> in the oversight of the use permit. This is largely due to a lack of <br /> resources to enforce all aspects of the Winery Ordinance. The venue <br />