South Napa County winery approved, American Canyon to supply water
The Napa County Planning Commission has approved a new winery capable of producing up to 250,000 gallons of wine a year in an industrial park near the airport in south Napa County.
The commission voted on Aug. 6 unanimously for the project, a 54,790-square-foot tilt-up building slated to be constructed on a 4.33-acre vacant lot. But it did so only after imposing conditions of approval to alleviate concerns about water usage and the practice of storing and then trucking the winery’s wastewater off site, a process known as “hold and haul.”
Under the terms of the project’s use permit, “hold and haul” is allowed if the winery’s annual wine production is 160,000 gallons or less.
However, the winery must have a wastewater treatment system once its annual wine production exceeds 160,000 gallons — up to 250,000 gallons. This advanced treatment system would allow the winery to pipe its wastewater effluent to the Napa Sanitation District facilities.
David Haugen, a partner developing the project, did not object to the conditions of approval for the new winery slated to be built at the end of Gateway Road East. The owner of the land is Newport Beach-based Phelan Development, according to county records.
Planning Commissioner Walter Brooks, who raised concerns about water usage and the “hold and haul” practice, thanked Haugen for his “flexibility.”
Haugen also asked permission to build a 45-foot tall building in order to have a more “versatile” building. The height limit is 35 feet. The building is right in line with others in the area, Haugen said.
Haugen said he and his partners want to build the “most flexible project” they could for future generations. The requested height makes the building more “efficient,” he said.
The building was designed the help of a winemaker, Haugen said. But given the industry’s economic slump, the unnamed winemaker asked to “pump the brakes,” he said.
The partners nonetheless decided to pursue the entitlement process. The site, Haugen noted, is the last parcel in the subdivision to be developed.
The winery’s wine production was expected to increase gradually, Haugen said.
Once it is big enough, the “hold and haul” system would be replaced with an advanced system to treat the wastewater, Haugen said. There would be environmental and economic incentives to do so, he said. Revenues from the bigger wine production would pay for the new system. “It’s a cheaper way to go,” Haugen said.
American Canyon supplies the area with water.
Haugen also agreed to help restore Sheehy Creek, which runs next to the proposed building site.
Before the vote, Mike Hackett, an activist based in Angwin, raised a number of objections, including saying that staff did not report the presence of an outflow for the property into Sheehy Creek.
He also questioned the building’s purpose.
“What are we really doing? Are we doing a business office or are we doing a winery? And you still don’t know. Do you?” Hackett asked the Planning Commission.
Michelle Benvenuto, executive director of Winegrowers of Napa County, reminded the commission that Napa County’s current policy allows “hold and haul.”
“Adjusting standard guidelines on the fly outside of a formal policy update also undermines predictability and fairness in the permitting process,” Benvenuto said.
Before the vote, commissioners did express support for the project, which they noted was slated to be built in an industrial area.
Planning Commissioner Kara Brunzell noted it is the last parcel to be developed “in an existing industrial park that’s adjacent to the highway.”
The site has been designated for industrial development since 1955, according to Napa County.
