The Smith and Hook Winery proposed an expansion of its existing facilities in Soledad. The proposal included the creation of a Demonstration Culinary Center and banquet facilities among other facilities. The County proposed to approve this expansion with a categorical exemption.

• The landowner is the Hahn Family Winery.
• The Plan represents an expansion of the existing winery to include a Demonstration Culinary Center, banquet room and kitchen.
• The County of Monterey is the Lead Agency.
• The project is governed by the 2010 Monterey County General Plan.

• The County has deemed the project categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act and the project was approved.
• The County issued an Administrative Permit for this project on October 17, 2011.

• Current Policies are Being Challenged
  Every policy referenced in support of approval is currently being challenged by LandWatch’s litigation against the 2010 Monterey County General Plan.
• Groundwater Overdraft
  The wine industry consumes significant amounts of the water from the Salinas Basin and should not be exempted from long term sustainable water supply requirements.

LandWatch engages in the public process in a variety of ways. For this project, here is a list of our engagement strategies.

• Letter: Request For Continuation of the Permit Approval (19K PDF)
  LandWatch noted in its letter that the policies used to push this project forward are being challenged in a lawsuit by the organization and therefore projects shouldn’t proceed with processing until it is resolved. (09.07.11)