County supervisors let Pasolivo expansion move forward
– Paso Robles residents filed an appeal of Pasolivo’s application for expanding its olive oil processing and wine tasting center at Pasolivo Ranch at 8530 Vineyard Drive that was approved by the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors on June 2. The appeal was denied Tuesday at the board meeting, allowing the expansion to move forward.
Opposition to the expansion came from local residents Wilton and Helen Webster, Ron Joliffe and Collen Runyen. In a letter to the supervisors from Alison Norton of Wittwer Parkin, LLP, a law firm representing the Websters and Save Adelaida, a group of Adelaida residents that oppose the project, the appellants have serious concerns in regards to the scope of the project proposed, as well as the vacation rental structure.
“Save Adelaida continues to believe that the [minor use permit] and segments vacation rentals require legally adequate environmental review and that an environmental impact report is required by CEQA to evaluate the whole of the project,” Norton wrote.
The supervisors upheld the decision to all the phased expansion of the existing olive oil and wine processing facility, including allowing 20 temporary events with up to 200 guests each and modifications to the ordinance standards to allow adjustments to setbacks and increase limits of retail sales at Pasolivo Ranch. The board did place a condition on the permit banning vacation rentals and bed-and-breakfast inns on the site.
The appellants contend that the project will change the entire neighborhood as that there are not currently weddings or big events in the area. Staff responded that temporary events are an allowed use on agriculture land with a minor use permit. Since February 2013, three wineries in the area have also been granted minor use permits that allow each to host 25 events with up to 200 guests. Halter Ranch’s permit was approved in February, Adelaida Cellars in November 2014 and Opolo Winery’s in February 2013.
Opponents of the project also raised concerns of the permit that was approved to demolish Adelaida barn.
“Once this barn is removed, it cannot be replaced and it provides an important glimpse into the history of our state and specifically the county that once was such a thriving dairy stronghold,” Gage Dayton, Ph.D. wrote in an email to the board of supervisors. “Preservation of this important historical landmark will provide education opportunities for future generations. Removal of the barn will irrevocably change the character of the area. I sincerely hope that you consider saving the barn and preserving the character of this area.”
County staff said that the barn is not designated as “historic” by the county and none of the structures on the property were found to be historically significant.
The project will include the replacement of the existing 6,946-square-foot bar with two new buildings – 2,600-square-foot and 3,000-square-foot – that will include a processing areas, tasting room, retail sales, commercial kitchen, office and storage.
