June 4, 2023 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Temporary Ban Imposed On New/Expanded Vineyards In Santa Monica Mountains:

Spurred primarily by concerns about water use amid the extended drought, the county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday imposed a temporary ban on new or expanded vineyards a large swath of the northern Santa Monica Mountains.

The ban affects the 32-square-mile Santa Monica Mountains North Area, which includes unincorporated land west of the city of Los Angeles and reaching the Ventura County line, adjacent to Calabasas, Agoura Hills and Westlake Village.

“Quite recently, 12 new vineyards have been approved just in this area,” Supervisor Sheila Kuehl said. “And if you take a longer look at it, 25 new vineyards have been approved. Sixteen more applications are pending for vineyards.”

She stressed that the ban is only a temporary step designed to give county planners a chance to review water issues as they relate to vineyards and determine if additional conditions should be imposed on future projects.

“No, vineyards did not cause the drought,” Kuehl said. “I didn’t cause the drought either by using too much water, but the point is the aggregate of everybody’s actions is contributing.”

Richard Bruckner, the county’s director of Regional Planning, said people who want to install a vineyard simply bring an application to the county that is approved administratively.

Imposing a temporary ban will “give us a chance to think of a more thoughtful approach to maybe, perhaps, some conditions for the vineyards, perhaps look at the water certainly look at the water quality coming off of the vineyards,” he said. “So it would be an opportunity to look at perhaps some conditions that may be applicable to vineyards in the future.”

The ban was opposed by vineyard operators.

“It seems like we’re being targeted for vines, whereas other things that might actually lead to more significant drought reduction are not even being mentioned in this — agriculture, housing, horses,” said Malibu resident Dan Fredman, who has been operating a vineyard for about five years. “All of those things use significantly more water than grapes do.

“… I realize it’s difficult to get much sympathy for people who live in Malibu,” he said. “This morning we’ve been hearing about valley fever, living-wage issues, all of that, but the reality is most of the people who are working with farming, we’re out there doing it ourselves.”

Greg Barnett of Malibu Coast Wines, added that he has “enjoyed the Santa Monica Mountains my whole life, and then I’ve welcomed the whole wine country that is just blossoming behind our backyard in the mountains.”

“I just can’t believe that this is going to put a ban on all future vineyards as well as any sort of vineyard expansion, which is kind of distressing to our family,” he said.

Beyond the amount of water used by vineyards, Kuehl said the county also wants to look at their water runoff, which can contain chemicals from pesticides and fertilizers.

The board is expected to revisit the issue during a public hearing on July 28.

in News
Related Posts

New Business and Personal Lines Property and Casualty Insurance Paused In California

June 2, 2023

June 2, 2023

Allstate and State Farm Say Currently Insured Homeowners Will Not Be Affected  After State Farm announced a pause on new...

(Video) Mayor Karen Bass Speaks At The Memorial Day Ceremony At The Los Angeles National Cemetery

June 2, 2023

June 2, 2023

This was the first ceremony that had been held in person at The National Cemetery since 2019 and before the...

Film Review: The Little Mermaid

June 2, 2023

June 2, 2023

FILM REVIEWTHE LITTLE MERMAIDRated PG135 MinutesReleased May 26th With today’s technological developments, a live-action The Little Mermaid is not only...

Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Has Appointed A New Superintendent

June 2, 2023

June 2, 2023

Antonio M. Shelton, Ed.D. Appointment Will Be Effective July 1, 2023 In a late afternoon press release, The Santa Monica-Malibu...

Clerk Charged With Selling Alcohol to Minor

June 1, 2023

June 1, 2023

The Incident Was Part of a Minor Decoy Operation The Santa Monica Police Department issued a citation to a clerk...

Extra Officers Deployed for Motorcyclists’ Violations

June 1, 2023

June 1, 2023

Speeding Is the Primary Cause of Motorcycle Crashes The Santa Monica Police Department deployed additional officers on patrol June 1...

Santa Monica Police Department Releases First Quarter Crime Report

June 1, 2023

June 1, 2023

Decrease in Calls for Service, Increase in Arrests, Shifts in Part I Offenses The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) has...

Free Meals for WGA Members During Strike at Bob’s Big Boy and Swingers Diner

June 1, 2023

June 1, 2023

Comedian and Host Drew Carey Is Paying For Meals For Striking WGA Members By Dolores Quintana As the Writers Guild...

(Video) Recap of The 8th Annual “Mainopoly” Tour of Main Street Restaurants

June 1, 2023

June 1, 2023

Come along the most recent Mainopoly tour of Main Street to check out its restaurants and shops. @smmirrornews Come tour...

Mystery Surrounds Closure of Michelin Recommended Restaurant Savida in Santa Monica

June 1, 2023

June 1, 2023

Santa Monica’s Beloved Crudo and Seafood Restaurant Abruptly Shuts Down on April 27 By Dolores Quintana After receiving a coveted...

Salvation Army to Distribute 2,000 Donuts at Santa Monica Promenade

May 31, 2023

May 31, 2023

Donuts Will Be Distributed at Various Locations Throughout the City. The Salvation Army Santa Monica will commemorate its 130-year anniversary...

Santa Monica Requests $6M To Expand Memorial Park

May 30, 2023

May 30, 2023

An Expansion Project Would Combine the 10.3-acre Park With an Adjacent 2.9 Acre Property. By Zach Armstrong The city of...

Get Ready For Cinematic Despair: American Cinematheque Presents Bleak Week

May 30, 2023

May 30, 2023

Explore the Darkest Depths of Humanity in a Gripping Showcase of Bleak Cinema Get ready for a captivating week of...

Sexual Assault Suspect in Custody After Stabbing Victim’s Friend

May 30, 2023

May 30, 2023

The Suspect Is Responsible for Another Recent Assault. On Saturday, May 27, 2023, at approximately 7:30 p.m., officers from the...

Mail and Package Thieves Detained by Santa Monica Police

May 30, 2023

May 30, 2023

The Suspect Possessed Counterfeit U.S. Postal Service Arrow Keys. Shortly before midnight on May 20, officers from the Santa Monica...