Where can one begin to respond to Stephen Pepe’s mischaracterization of the hearing at the Buellton City Council held on April 26, 2012? And why is this a thing four years later?
It must be an election year.
Just to set the record straight, the Santa Ynez Valley Alliance and others in attendance at the council hearing were there to encourage good long-term planning. The County of Santa Barbara was just starting the process to update the Winery Ordinance first approved in approximately 2002. This is an open process charged with taking into account many differing perspectives. The process looks at how the original ordinance is working and what can be done to make it a better ordinance for the next 10 years, balancing many competing interests but keeping in mind the larger goal of support for this industry.