[Amerigomag]

I hesitate to enter into this discussion except acendotally because I have no idea of the terrain that is proposed for viticulture. I have no idea if lush, marine, subtropical forest or barren rolling hills. Until I see some photography of the actual vineyard plots, before cultivation, the jury is out for me.

[tubebender]

I'm not opposed to what Gallo did I am only chagrined at the hypocrisy of the wine snobs of that region who were among the first to spam the loggers of the North West...

[steelie]

I can't believe I missed this thread. I sit on the Sonoma county planning commission that made this decision. I also have a somewhat large winery and vineyard operation in Alexander Valley, Sonoma County.(now my cover is blown!) The conversions are nothing like the scale talked about in the article. Timber production lands are already well protected in Sonoma Co. Generally only open lands within the timber areas were being converted. and at this point, less than 1% of the 300,000+ acres are converted or proposed, in total! Not much more is even acceptable for planting.

I initially had enough votes to recommend no changes to our General Plan, but eventually lost out to hysteria last week.

Areas outside of Timber Production zones are covered as well if they have any merchant timber on them. A farmer will now need a special "use permit" to farm in those areas.

The strangest part is there was little concern about the thousands of acres of timber is being "protected" under parks and preserves, never to be logged again. Those folks in support of the ordinance kept talking about maintaining economic viability of the timber industry. Water use is already addressed in an environmental document that is part of any conversion. It was a farce.