Neighbors Don't Want to Hear Winery's Music until Midnight

Residents on historic Los Rios Street don’t want to hear music until midnight at a new San Juan Capistrano winery now under construction across the railroad tracks in downtown on Verdugo Street.

In October, the San Juan Capistrano Planning Commission was swayed by Rancho Capistrano Winery owner Kyle Franson, who urged commissioners to let him offer amplified music until midnight like other nearby wedding event venues. Staff had recommended pulling the plug by 9 p.m. daily.

But now, 28 nearby residents, including Ramos House Café owner John Q. Humphreys, have appealed the decision. The City Council will take up the matter at Tuesday’s meeting.

“Although we all welcome and support their new venture, we are all vehemently opposed to the decision to allow unmitigated outdoor entertainment seven days a week to midnight,” says the petition, signed by representatives of Sarduccis, the Vintage Steakhouse, Guapas Tapas, Five Vines Wine Bar, the Tea House on Los Rios and others.

Humphreys also owns the Villa, a wedding event venue a couple blocks away.

At the Planning Commission hearing, Franson said it was only fair to allow him to have amplified music until midnight.

“Franciscan Gardens and El Adobe can have bands until midnight. The Villa can have bands late into the night,” Franson said. “We’d like to be treated the same as everybody up and down the street.”

The council meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto in San Juan Capistrano.