Council: No Winery Expansion—Yet

If the people behind the new winery going into the historic Swanner House want to expand, they’re going to have to go through the regular planning process, the City Council decided Tuesday.

In May, the council signed off on plans for Hamilton Oaks Vineyard and Winery of Trabuco Canyon to at the at 29991 Camino Capistrano, across from the . 

But two weeks ago, owner Ron Tamez returned to the city with hopes of altering the plans a bit. He wants more room for parking, a portable restroom area, an events area about twice as large as originally envisioned, an extra access road, sea cargo container for storage, lights and a separate catering area.

“I have a fundamental problem with taking an approved agreement we have and not adhering to our agreement, which was signed by both parties,” said Mayor Larry Kramer.

A building on the National Register of Historic Places, owned by the city and smack in the middle of open space, is too important to bypass the normal planning process, he said.

“I’ve seen city councils up here try to design some things on the fly, but it ultimately comes back to bite them, and I don’t like to be bit,” Kramer said.

Councilman Derek Reeve, who was the sole vote of dissent in the motion to kick Hamilton Oaks’ plans back to the city’s various committees and commissions, said he was first alarmed at the changes proposed. But after taking a closer look, Reeve said he decided that the alterations would be beneficial.

He advocated the council at least approve the parking lot changes, the portable bathroom staging area and the expanded events area.

But other council members said they didn’t want to approve the changes piecemeal.

The issue attracted comments from eight area residents.

Steve Behmerwohld accused Tamez of a bait-and-switch.

“I kind of resent this whole thing happening,” he said.

Matt Gaffney agreed: “The guy made an original deal, and now he’s trying to get that original deal sweetened.”

Tamez said most of the changes requested are ideas that cropped up as he recently cleared the property, prepping it for the tasting room’s opening.

For example, mapped trees near the approved events area turned out not to exist, so it made sense to expand the reception area to handle bigger weddings and events, up to 400 people, he said.

And an access road on the north end of the property would keep delivery trucks out of the public parking lot, Tamez added.

But local preservationist David Belardes said he was concerned for ancient artifacts and native Indian burial grounds which are likely part of the property. He said the city should require an archeologist to oversee the proposed changes – or face a lawsuit.

“You better get some people to tell you what’s under the ground, not just the historic structure,” he said. “I’ve been doing this for 35 years and we still don’t get it in this town?”

Kramer said he’s not necessarily opposed to the proposed changes.

“The changes, the things you’ve talked about, make sense. Stick to that, and come back through the process with the new plan,” he said.

Addressing fellow council members, Kramer added: “We do him a disservice if we give him partial answers right now.”