"After hundreds of written letters of opposition, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously voted to order major changes to a proposal to rezone the region's farmlands - and restart the community engagement process. County officials have been trying to set clear expectations around rural development as local policymakers fight to preserve the "Valley of Heart's Delight" and grapple with sprawling builder's remedy projects that threaten open space. But the county's draft zoning amendments have sparked uproar due to dramatic changes to the regulation of wineries and equestrians and a lack of public involvement."
"Under the proposed rezoning draft, winery owners questioned whether they would be forced to pay thousands of dollars for new permits and costly retrofits, facing stricter building and use regulations for areas such as tasting rooms. Equestrians, meanwhile, raised alarm the zoning draft would remove horses' recognition as livestock - possibly gutting protections for horse breeding and boarding. Equestrians also warned the price of running stables would surge due to lost tax exemptions and displace horses into unsafe living conditions."
County leaders voted unanimously to require major changes and to restart community engagement on a proposed rural rezoning of farmlands. The draft amendments prompted strong opposition from farmers, winery owners and equestrians who warned of costly permits, retrofits and stricter building and use regulations for tasting rooms. Equestrians warned the draft would remove horses' recognition as livestock, jeopardizing breeding and boarding protections and threatening tax exemptions and stable costs. Religious groups also raised concerns about limits on church expansion. Dozens of residents provided public comment, and the vote was requested by District 1 Supervisor Sylvia Arenas.
Read at San Jose Spotlight
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