There are currently 12 tasting rooms on the books in downtown Calistoga. The city has drafted a policy to impose limits and conditions on future tasting rooms.
The city of Calistoga has formally adopted a policy to limit the number of new wine tasting rooms each year to two per calendar year.
At a meeting this past Tuesday, the city council unanimously agreed to allow a total of 12 wine tasting storefronts on Lincoln Avenue, and 18 in the downtown commercial district, including two storefronts along Washington Street.
A secondary use requirement was also adopted, requiring 25% of the tasting room, preferably in the front of the store, for another use, such as non-wine related retail, and to be local-serving.
The resolution, rather than an ordinance, does not change the city’s zoning code, but will provide clarity to city statutes and guidelines for city officials when considering future tasting room applications. Existing standards within the code will remain in place.
The resolution also provides a more general “tasting room’ definition to include the possibility of, for example, a whisky tasting operation.
The last time the city considered new tasting room standards was in 2015 and nothing was resolved at that time, staff said.
Earlier this year, the Calistoga Planning Commission recommended revising the current standards in an effort to been to provide consistent approaches in permitting and regulating tasting room uses while maintaining a balance and diversity of commercial development.
Currently there are 10 tasting rooms downtown, with one more recently approved. The policy will limit the number in the entire town to 26.
Under the policy, that number would be relatively easy to adjust should the situation arise, said Planning Director Zac Tusinger, adding the city usually gets an average of one tasting room application per year.
Mayor Chris Canning noted the policy could affect commercial property owners by eliminating possible tenants.
Councilmember Don Williams said he had received 15 emails from residents and 11 were supportive of the measure.
The measure passed unanimously, with Councilmember Lisa Gift abstaining due to a possible conflict of interest.
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PHOTOS: TAKE A STROLL THROUGH NAPA VALLEY VINEYARDS 2019
Lives of the Vines
The Napa River at the Pope Street bridge, as seen Thursday morning. At 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, the river crested at 13.97 feet, short of its flood stage of 16 feet.
Lives of the Vines
Water flows over the spillway at Bell Canyon reservoir, which was filled to the brim by the last storm.
Lives of the Vines
It was a snowy and picturesque scene at Robert Louis Stevenson State Park on Mount St. Helena Tuesday morning.
Lives of the Vines
Mustard blooms in a vineyard along McCorkle Avenue on Feb. 5.
Lives of the Vines
A full "snow" moon rises over the Palisades on Mount St. Helena Monday evening.
Lives of the Vines
The Napa River at Sulphur Creek on the morning of Feb. 14, during the last atmospheric river.
Lives of the Vines
A Jaguar F-Type in deep water on Glass Mountain Road on Wednesday, Feb. 27.
Lives of the Vines
A line of flowering pear trees in bloom alongside the entrance to Trinchero Napa Valley on Highway 29 near Ehlers Lane.
Lives of the Vines
Flowers bloom along Highway 29 in front of Nickel & Nickel Winery.
Lives of the Vines
Poppies bloom in a vineyard near Inglewood Avenue.
Lives of the Vines
A cascade of rose vines soften the high stucco wall of a local Tuscan estate.
Lives of the Vines
The St. Helena City Council will discuss the future of the Adams Street property next to the library at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 28, at Vintage Hall.
Lives of the Vines
Last week's rain wasn't expected to be a major problem for Napa Valley grapes, like these in Beckstoffer Vineyards' "Dr. Crane" vineyard near Vidovich Avenue.
Lives of the Vines
A row of vines at Salvestrin Vineyards.
Lives of the Vines
Grapes hang in a vineyard near College Avenue.
Lives of the Vines
Grapes hang in a vineyard near the walking path that leads from Adams Street to the Napa River.
Lives of the Vines
Fog shrouds a hill in Angwin.
Lives of the Vines
Grapes undergo veraison in a Spring Street vineyard.
Lives of the Vines
Grapes hang near McCorkle Avenue.
Lives of the Vines
A vineyard row near Highway 29 in St. Helena.
Lives of the Vines
A view of the Mayacamas Mountains from the porch of 1881 Napa in Oakville.
Lives of the Vines
A cool morning dawns over a vineyard near Linda Falls Terrace in Angwin.
Lives of the Vines
A view of the Four Seasons resort under construction along Silverado Trail in Calistoga.
Lives of the Vines
The sun rises over a recently harvested vineyard near Highway 29 in St. Helena.
Lives of the Vines
Fall colors in a vineyard on Kidd Ranch Road.
Lives of the Vines
Grapes hang near Vallejo Street.
Lives of the Vines
Fall colors in a vineyard south of Calistoga.
Lives of the Vines
A Napa Valley vineyard in autumn.
Lives of the Vines
Smoke from the Kincade Fire last week hung over a vineyard on Silverado Trail in Calistoga.
Lives of the Vines
At this time of year, not only the leaves in vineyards turn color but so does ivy as it covers the walls of Beaulieu Vineyards along Highway 29.
Lives of the Vines
A deer strolls down a residential street in Angwin.
Lives of the Vines
Sunday was umbrella weather in downtown St. Helena.
Lives of the Vines
Saturday's heavy rains swell Sulphur Creek at Main Street, next to the historic Sulphur Creek Bridge.
You can reach Cynthia Sweeney at 942-4035 or csweeney@weeklycalistogan.com.
Cynthia Sweeney
The Weekly Calistogan Editor
Cynthia Sweeney has been editor of The Weekly Calistogan since July, 2018. Previously, she was a reporter for the St. Helena Star, and North Bay Business Journal. She also spent a significant amount of time freelancing in Hawaii.
