September 18, 2020 — The Hopland Municipal Advisory Council received a presentation this week about a proposed high-end campsite off of Old Toll Road, on 92 acres of property owned by Brutocao Vineyards. Several environmental groups and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife weighed in with concerns about how the project’s initial study did not include sufficient detail to analyze impacts on plants and animals, including anadromous fish that can be harmed by sediment that washes into waterways from roads that are improperly built and maintained.
Members of the public also said they were worried about the proposal to include open fire pits.
But the local fire marshall said he’s pleased with the plans to include fire hydrants, water storage, clearing, and access routes. And he said the facility would be managed by on-site staff who could keep an eye on local wildfire conditions and make sure guests followed rules about seasonal use of fire pits.
And a company rep said that LACO, the firm that does a lot of the environmental review work for the county, has engineered a system of internal roads based on existing trails.
Municipal Advisory Councils are among the organizations that get notified about projects in unincorporated parts of the county that require a major use permit so the community can request presentations about the proposals and consider them at formal meetings. The organizations generally have some heft with their county supervisors and the planning department, and mostly act as advisory bodies on planning issues.