Mad River vineyard OK'd by supervisors

A rezone of Highway Commercial property to Rural Residential allowing for a vineyard, orchard and organic farm to be developed on property along Van Duzen Road in Mad River was recently approved by the Trinity County Board of Supervisors over a neighbor's objection to the project.

Owned by Jack and Joanne Crlenjak, the 4.6- acre property is at the junction of Van Duzen Road and Highway 36. It is next to commercial property developed in the 1980s by the county to house a grant-funded herb-drying cooperative.

The herb-drying facility was later sold to a private party and is now vacant although owners Patrick and Julene Frazier indicate their plans are to open a pet care business and also operate a monthly auction there.

The Crlenjaks want to divide their 4.6 acres into two parcels — their own 1.6 acre property that houses a mini-storage facility and a 3-acre piece the new owners (Ron and Jil Walashek of Novato) want to establish a vineyard, orchard and organic farm on as well as a small residence.

The Trinity County Planning Commission recommended approval of the requested rezone from Highway Commercial to Rural Residential, 2.5-acre minimum lot size although the commissioner representing Southern Trinity, Ray Bushman of Mad River, was opposed.

He argued that flat, commercially-zoned land is very scarce in that area and the county should preserve what little there is.

Because 3 acres is too small for agricultural zoning, planning staff recommended approval of the rezone to Rural Residential that allows for one residence and small-scale farming activities as a better fit than Highway Commercial.

The neighbors with the former herb-drying warehouse opposed the requested rezone, fearing the single well serving their property and the 4.6 acres next door will not provide sufficient water for the additional use.

The Fraziers also worried about potential noise and dust impacts from commercial traffic on the gravel road they share with the proposed vineyard.

During the recent Board of Supervisors' hearing on the rezone request, Walashek urged the board to share his vision of a vineyard at the entrance to the Van Duzen valley and said, "I'm asking you to give up something you don't have much of, but I think it will pay off tenfold." He added that grapes do not require much water.

The applicant, Crlenjak, said the gravel access road to the property is well-built and has never created a dust problem. He added that if the vineyard is as successful as he believes it will be, "it will increase revenue for the county, improve the area and maybe employ a few people."

District 5 Sup. Wendy Reiss said the loss of Highway Commercial property "is very bothersome because there is so little of it down there," but her greater concern is whether there is adequate water.

"Short of my concerns about the water and loss of Highway Commercial, I think it's a damn fine project," she said.

Sup. Howard Freeman called the proposed vineyard "visionary — it is right on track. A vineyard is a destination, drawing people from out of the county to come and visit."

Sup. Roger Jaegel said he believes a Planning Commission recommendation that the applicant should pave the road "is over the top, but the unresolved water issue is a real concern. I really support the project, but that question needs to be resolved."

Senior Planner Jeanne Bonomini said the area in question has a very high groundwater table and if the applicant were to drill another well, it would likely solve any problems.

The board voted 5-0 to approve the requested rezone without a requirement to pave the road, but it included a condition that the property owner must prove sufficient water supply before obtaining a building permit.