To the Vanguard News Home page 11-3-04 the LA County Department of Regional Planning approved a conditional use permit for the Agua Dulce Winery with a unanimous vote.
Over 100 people were present to support the winery, with virtually no opposition. The former directors of SPV Water Co, who had objected to the permit, were not present.
The usage under the current agricultural zoning for a vineyard to grow grapes, does not require a permit. The permit was necessary because the vineyard needs a CUP to have a tasting room and a general County wide permit to sell alcohol. The Department of Public Works stated at the hearing that the winery, in total, will use less water than the homes that could be permitted on the same acreage, and they would use far less water than the historic use per home in the Sierra Colony tract. The winery is allowed 12 events per year with a 200 person maximum under the permit approved, and 6 events a year which would have to be individually approved with temporary use permits.
This starts a return of agricultural use to what was an agricultural community.
Here are the links to the Agua Dulce Winery website and also the Department of Regional Planning hearing notice to read the conditions imposed.
Conditional Use Permit Case No. 01-241-(5)
Agua Dulce Vineyards, LLC To authorize continued use of an existing unpermitted winery to be relocated from an existing building in the C-3 (Unlimited Commercial) zone to a new building in the A-1 (Light Agricultural) zone of the subject property and to increase annual production from 15,000 to 50,000 gallons. The request also includes authorization of winery tours and tasting, wine bottling, retail sales, 12 annual special events for a maximum of 200 guests, one single family residence, three mobile home caretaker's residences to remain on the property in excess of 5 years, a sports and activity field, a water well to serve two parcels, accessory storage structures and the sale of beer and wine for on and off-site consumption 9640 Sierra Highway, Agua Dulce Soledad Zoned District