The family winery on Bella Oaks Lane asked to increase annual visitation from 3,167 guests to 17,605 guests. Some neighbors feared the growth would change a rural atmosphere and hinder wildfire evacuations on a narrow, dead-end road.

On Feb. 3, the Napa County Planning Commission heard the growth requests, then gave the Staglins and neighbors until March 3 to try to work things out. Several neighbors said they had learned of the proposal only a few weeks or even days before the meeting.

“We want to hear all those voices along Bella Oaks Lane,” said consultant Rob Anglin on behalf of the Staglins.

Staglin Family Vineyard is located a mile west of Highway 29 at 1570 Bella Oaks Lane along the Mayacamas Mountains. The Staglins founded the operation in 1985 and won county permission for a winery in 1999.

“It’s a full-time job for all of us and a full-time opportunity,” Garen Staglin told the commission.

The 36,000-gallons-a-year winery has a big profile. Its endeavors include hosting an annual music festival to benefit One Mind, the nonprofit for brain health started by the Staglins in 1995. Performers have included Grammy award winners Sheryl Crow and Jennifer Hudson.

Bella Oaks Lane also has about a dozen residences.

Neighbor Helen Berggruen said she appreciates the Staglins’ work for brain health. The family has been helpful to neighbors, especially during the wildfires.

“However, I do believe that a (visitor) expansion of this magnitude would be overwhelming for all of us who live close by,” Berggruen wrote to the county.

Neighbor Jennifer Trainor told commissioners the proposed visitation “seems like a tsunami.”

Amanda Bryan of neighboring Sycamore Vineyards said her family admires the Staglins’ entrepreneurial spirit to grow an enterprise. But narrow Bella Oaks Lane is not constructed to support a massive amount of cars and buses.

“We really should be entitled to the quiet enjoyment of our land,” Bryan told commissioners.

Others favored the Staglins’ request. Vintner Darioush Khaledi of Darioush winery on Silverado Trail called it a reasonable one that would not negatively impact the community.

Bella Oaks Lane resident Ed Labry of Labry Wines said the Staglins’ events are well-run and guests don’t park on the street. He supported the requested visitation growth.

Commissioners praised the Staglins for their charitable work. They praised the family for farming the land organically and being good stewards of the land.

But, Commissioner Dave Whitmer said, the commission is faced with a land use decision.

“I understand the Staglins’ need for increased visitation,” Commissioner Anne Cottrell said. “That (present) 10 visitors a day is a low number for the current needs of the industry. We know we live in the age of direct-to-consumer.”

None of the commissioners said what they thought the visitation number should be. Commissioner Joelle Gallagher said she’d like to see the proposed number adjusted downward.

What happens with the Staglins’ proposal could hinge on attempts by the various Bella Oaks Lane parties to work out a compromise.

“I feel confident that letting the neighbors and Staglins work together, hopefully when we come back, it will be an even stronger application,” Commissioner Megan Dameron said.

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