Feeling Graton by Jennifer Butler - July 2018
SMALL FIRES COULD BE SET INTENTIONALLY
Please be on the alert. Small Fires. Recently, someone noticed the Graton Fire Dept. investigating a series of small fires along the Joe Rodota Trail between Bowers St. and Occidental Road that appear to have been set intentionally. Please keep your eyes open and report this activity immediately.
Follow-up on the Purple Wine use permit
I met with Aaron Webb, President of Purple Wine Estates. I thought it would be illuminating but the truth is, at the time of this article, the Board of Purple Wine Estates just hasn’t decided what component of the application they are going to pursue first i.e. the beer garden, production etc. So, I will report what I know so far but anticipate this will be an ongoing report as the “project” continues. Aaron, has committed to keeping me updated. He said that he wants Graton to stay informed along the way.
Purple Wines has been in business here for 20 years in Graton and will continue to pursue what is in their best interest. What we can do as residents is stay involved so that what’s best for Graton is as aligned as possible.
I was given a tour and in spite of my 16 years in Graton, I had no idea just how big the facility really is. It was in a way reassuring to see how much space is available and how so far it has been minimally impactful.
Thank you to all of you who wrote in your questions. I didn’t get time to ask them all, but I will. Here the questions and answers that I did get to. And as stated I will continue to report on this once, I hear about the application revisions and selected priorities by the board.
1. Does ownership of Purple Wine Estates live in Graton. “No, but many employees do.”
2. When will the revision to the application be submitted? “Undecided when as focus on the project is still undecided.”
3. Explain how you will not be increasing demands of current resources? “The resources that we have existing cover any future demands.”
4. How long will building take? “There will be no enduring construction.”
5. How do you propose to address parking issues? “Undetermined at this time.”
6. Has Purple Wine Estates any concerns for putting a brewery next to family housing? “We want to be respectful. For example the hours listed on the application are not the use timeframe we intent nor will we be having amplified music. More will be decided as we decide on the scope of the project.”
7. What hours are you expecting to operate? “Undetermined at this time.”
8. How do you see this benefiting Graton? “We think making aesthetic improvements will help with home values as well as having an outdoor facility that people can enjoy.”
9. Will you be holding a public meeting? “Yes, once the revised application is submitted we will.”
10. What about adding more drinking drivers to the road? “That is always a concern and a responsibility of an establishment to cut people off when they have had too much and we are open to public comments and suggestions.”
GCSD UDATE: as written by General manager Jose OrtizWe did have a special meeting last Tuesday, but it was primarily for a workshop on updating District policies. One other topic was to report to the Board our earlier meeting with staff from Sonoma County Water Agency.
In our previous update, we talked about identifying alternative locations to be the receiving point for Occidental CSD wastewater and holding community meetings near these receiving locations to discuss the project with nearby residents and businesses. We are still meeting with those location owners or representatives to gauge their interest and possible cooperation.
In the meantime, we have a rough schedule of how the project will proceed. The proposal to treat OCSD wastewater meets the definition of a project since it is an activity undertaken directly by a public agency. Therefore, the California Environmental Quality Act applies. Our project is very similar to the project that already hauls OCSD wastewater to a treatment plant near Airport Boulevard and for which a Mitigated Negative Declaration has been adopted. Although we have not completed an Initial Study, we are certain that our project, which has less impacts than the one already approved, will also need a Negative Declaration.
To expedite the project, we are working on several parallel tracks. One effort is to draft an agreement with OCSD that spells out the terms of the agreement and costs and benefits to each organization. Another is to prepare preliminary plans and specifications for modifications to the eventual receiving point, which has not been determined yet. Lastly, we must prepare, notice, and adopt an environmental document, which is likely to be the aforementioned Mitigated Negative Declaration.
If and when the project is approved and the environmental document is adopted, we will then execute the agreement, finalize the plans and specifications for the receiving point modifications, advertise the project, award the contract, complete construction, and begin transporting and treating OCSD wastewater.
If everything goes as we expect and hope, we anticipate beginning OCSD operations in March 2019.
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Please let me know if there is something that you would like me to know or write about. You can reach me at butlersjennifer@gmail.com
