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SAN JOAQUIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION <br /> / MEETING TODAY'S CHALLENGES/PLANNING FOR TOMORROW <br /> June 5, 2012 <br /> Ms. Mo Hatef <br /> San Joaquin County <br /> Community Development Department <br /> 1810 E. Hazelton Ave. <br /> Stockton, CA 95205 <br /> Sent via email to: mhatef s*gov.ore <br /> RE: PA-1200063 (Site Approval) <br /> Dear Ms. Hatef, <br /> The San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation (Farm Bureau) represents over 4,000 <br /> agricultural and rural members throughout San Joaquin County. As the leading nonprofit voice <br /> for agriculture, we thank you for the opportunity to weigh in on this application to expand an <br /> existing small winery including a wine garden, commercial kitchen, storage building, and a <br /> request for increasing the number of events and the number of attendees for this facility. <br /> The Farm Bureau recognizes the unique role the Winery Ordinance (Ordinance) plays in <br /> enhancing the promotion of agricultural products in San Joaquin County. However, over the <br /> last decade, the Ordinance has been put to the test. With growth to the wine industry in San <br /> Joaquin County, has come the demand for more events hosted on working agricultural <br /> landscapes. Over the past three years, Farm Bureau has been concerned with the trend of <br /> some wineries and wine cellars attempting to gain permits under the facade of a winery but <br /> truly operating as event centers. Further, the number of noise complaints and neighboring <br /> issues appear to have increased with these types of applications. Farm Bureau has also <br /> received complaints over existing agricultural operations regarding their inability to farm next <br /> to these "event centers" while the venue is having a party. We believe the basic building blocks <br /> exist in the current Ordinance, but that some slight modifications should be considered to <br /> ensure the Ordinance can adapt over the next decade. As a priority, the County must integrate <br /> a "winery first" approach, as well as focus on the theme of being a good neighbor. It is this <br /> theme of being a good neighbor that has raised concerns. Farm Bureau has received four <br /> letters of concern, in addition to phone calls regarding this application. <br /> After discussing this application with the County Staff, it is the Farm Bureau's <br /> understanding that this applicant has constructed two major components of this project <br /> without proper permitting. Both the wine garden and the commercial kitchen are prime <br /> 3290 NORTH AD ART ROAD•STOCKTON,CA•95215•(209)9314931 •(209)931-1433 Fax <br /> WWW.SJFB.ORG <br />