Rezone possible for Firestone Events
Center
Firestone Farming Company is seeking a “consistency
rezone” and a conditional use permit to allow the staging of events that
heretofore have required individual permits.
The application before the Santa Barbara County Planning
Commission is attracting attention from community groups concerned about the
loss of agricultural lands to changing commercial uses. The application by Adam Firestone for
Firestone Farming Company asks for a “consistency rezone” and a minor conditional
use permit for the events that have been held on the property in past years
which were individually permitted.
The 54-acre agriculturally-zoned property lies south of
the intersection of Zaca Station Road and Foxen Canyon Road at the north end of the Santa Ynez
Valley. According Adam Firestone, the
property has been in the family for many years, becoming the home of his
parents in 1998 after Adam had the Victorian style Newlove
House moved from a location near the Elks rodeo facility east of Santa Maria to
the Firestone property north of Los Olivos.
Firestone had the historic home, originally built on Newlove Street in Santa Maria in 1904, restored, and over
the eight years it has hosted various private events, including weddings and
political gatherings. A number of other
events have been held on the property, including the Santa Ynez Vintners
Festival, the Carriage Classic, and in 1999 a Crosby, Stills and Nash
concert.
Firestone said that, in 2004, the county re-wrote the
ordinance that permitted the events, but he decided that a change in zoning
would eliminate the need to continually re-apply for permits, and the rezone
would more accurately reflect the current combined agricultural and commercial
use of the property.
Firestone said that “there will be no new construction on
the property and there will be no intensification of use.” The proposal, including the conditional use
permit, will allow, during a one-year period, up to 30 one-day events with a
maximum of 250 guests, and two large events with up to 1,500 guests on a weekend.
The proposal noted that amplified music will be confined
to a three-sided pole barn and directed toward the southern part of the
property. The nearest neighbor is about one mile to the north and would not be
impacted by noise, dust, or light pollution from the events, the application
states.
Some local planning watchdog groups and activists have
expressed reservations about the proposed rezone and conditional use permits.
Mark Oliver, president of Santa Ynez Valley Alliance, said in a May 12 letter
to the planning commission that “the Initial Study/Negative Declaration
provides no comparison of other existing similar conditional use permits on
agriculturally-zoned properties in the Santa Ynez Valley.” Oliver said that
this and other “significant issues” are raised by the proposal.
According to Oliver, “The Alliance is concerned that the
size and number of the proposed events will … become the primary use of this
property rather than the ancillary use as seen in most other vineyard/winery
properties…”
Oliver said he did not agree that “the events would
promote and facilitate agricultural operations pertaining to the region.”
Former 3rd District supervisor Gail Marshall had some
“basic concerns” regarding the proposal, she said. According to Marshall, “This project simply
doesn’t qualify for this use,”
“It seems like Firestone has been given some slack as
this use has been going on for a while,” said Marshall.
Marshall said that granting the rezone and conditional
use permit would set a bad precedent. “If Firestone can do it, then why couldn’t everyone else,” she said. Marshall said that she would expect a “ripple
effect” on other properties should the rezone be approved.
“I believe that this affects
neighbors adversely,” complained Marshall.
“This threatens the viability of agricultural land.”