Microbrewery Ordinance

Project Description

Proposed amendments to the County’s Zoning Ordinance would provide definitions for microbreweries and microbrewery related uses; and would allow for the development of microbreweries and microbrewery related uses on lands that are zoned A (Agriculture), consistent with the County’s General Plan. The proposed amendments define agri-tourism; and add a definition for tasting room (on-site) that would apply to tasting rooms for wineries, olive oil mills, and microbreweries. Additional language amended the draft ordinance to insure adequate public road access and capacity in order to provide safe access for the public and emergency vehicles.

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Document Now Available for Review

A Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration (NOIA) and an Initial Study/draft Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) for the proposed Microbrewery Ordinances were released on August 29, 2017 for a 30-day public review period which ended on September 29, 2017. The Board of Supervisors will consider adopting the IS/MND.

CEQA DOCUMENTS

Initial Study (PDF - 2.8mb)
Notice of Intent (PDF - 131kb)

Public Meetings

The ordinance adoption process will require presenting the draft ordinance at public meetings in all of the affected communities. The table below contains a tentative schedule for these meetings. Staff is awaiting confirmation of placement on the agendas for these meetings.

Date	Commission/Committee	Action	Staff Report
July 27, 2017	Agricultural Advisory Committee	Recommended Board Approval	Staff Report
September 13, 2017	District 4 Agriculture Committee	Recommended Board Approval	Staff Report
September 20, 2017	Sunol Citizens' Advisory Committee	Recommended Board Approval	Staff Report
September 25, 2017	Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council	Recommended Approval with revisions to require on-site planting	Staff Report
October 16, 2017	Planning Commission	Recommended Approval as proposed	Staff Report
November 6, 2017	Transportation and Planning Committee	Received direction from member present to proceed to full Board of Supervisors	Staff Report
December 5, 2017	Board of Supervisors	Continued till January 9, 2018	Staff Report
January 9, 2018	Board of Supervisors	Recommended alternative ordinance revisions to address road access and additional community input.	Staff Report
January 29, 2018	Community Meeting hosted by Supervisor Haggerty and Supervisor Valle	Community meeting Vallejo Mill Elementary School (Fremont, CA)	Supervisors Scott Haggerty and Supervisor Richard Valle hosted a community meeting for further community input regarding the proposed amendments
February 20, 2018	Planning Commission	Continued for additional clarifications, language modifications and referrals to other communities for input.	Staff Report
November 5, 2015	Planning Commission

Staff Contact

Sharon Grewal, AICP
Alameda County Planning Department
224 West Winton Avenue, Suite 111
Hayward, CA 94544
Phone: (510) 670-5428
Send an email.