September 29, 2015

To:

Lisa Posternak, Project Planner

Local Coastal Plan
Sonoma County Permit and Resource Management

From: Carolyne Singer

33880 Seaview Road
Cazadero, CA 95421 (Timber Cove)
Subject: Comments and Suggestions for the Draft Local Coastal Plan
Specifically sections dealing with Agricultural Tourism
BACKGROUND
My Background: I have lived at 33880 Seaview Road for 43 years, since 1972.
I have worked in local visitors services at Fort Ross State Historic Park, Salt
Point State Park and Timber Cove Inn. I have been involved in local community
organizing and development for forty years.
Vineyards: I have witnessed the introduction of vineyards in our area from the
very beginning aging ranchers planting a few acres of vines to make taxes and
the development of local family vineyards. Local ownership of small vineyards
and wineries continues. These people are long time residents committed to
sustainable stewardship of the land and involvement in local communities. I
have also seen the encroachment of large corporations and absentee owners
interested more in the financial bottom line and a fashionable appellation than the
larger, long term picture of sustaining our unique Coastal Redwood Ecosystem
and rural way of life.
Coastal Redwood Ecosystem: Sonoma County is home to an ecosystem unique
in the world coastal bluffs, redwood forests, free flowing rivers exists on a
narrow strip of fog influenced California, Oregon and Washington. It is my
experience that people from around the world come to drive, walk, hike, bike and
camp in this unique environment. We have clean air, dark skies, ocean,
beaches, tide pools, wild forests and animals, ocean and inland vistas that
stretch for miles, lightly traveled back roads and more.
COMMENTS and SUGGESTIONS
1. Our Redwood Ecosystem is a sufficient attraction in itself. Terrior tourism,
(wine tasting, wine-centered events, wine country weddings, etc.) is a
distraction from direct interaction with the natural environment. The basis for
wine promotion is vineyards a replacement of the diverse natural
environment with a mono crop and a single focus economy.
2. The wine tourist lifestyle inevitably promotes ancillary commercial
development - hotels, B&Bs, restaurants, boutiques, event venues,
commercial kitchens, etc. This development becomes the focus of tourism

and the natural environment becomes background. One only has to look at
wine country development in any inland valley in Sonoma and Napa
Counties for cautionary examples.
3. Instead of more tasting rooms and event centers on the coast:
a. Keep Sonoma County Parks on the coast open year round. Lend county
support to keep Fort Ross and Salt Point State Parks open year-round.
b. Develop more parks, beaches, county campgrounds, visitor centers, trails
and scenic pull-outs to promote awareness and enjoyment of our rich
natural resources.
c. Build a safe bike path along the coast away from Highway One (the
Kortum Trail south of Jenner could be a model). There has been a
significant increase in bike, motorcycle and car use of Highway One and
local back roads on the last five years.
d. Install safety signage along back roads used by bicycle riders (example:
The steep downgrades on either side of Hauser Bridge. Many bike riders
have had serious bone breaking crashes on that stretch of the road.)
4. Improve Infrastructure on the coast: Rural road maintenance has been scarce
in recent years. Potholes are not filled and ditches are not cleared as often.
Our back roads are narrow, winding and fog shrouded in the winter. To
promote greater commercial road use (tasting rooms, event centers) before
making improvements is putting the cart before the horse.
5. Fire and Emergency Services: As demonstrated so painfully in Lake County
recently, our forests are drought stressed and tinder dry. The steep, coastal
hills are covered with huge swaths of forest. We are dependent on volunteer
fire companies for first response to fires, traffic and medical emergencies.
They are challenged to meet present need. Sheriff, CDF, ambulance and
helicopter response times are long (45 minutes to an hour). Increased land
prices, due to development, has led to an aging rural population and volunteer
pool. Young families cannot afford land or build homes. We dont need more
inebriated visitors.
6. Water: The Coastal Hills are designated in the General Plan as water scarce
areas. The South Fork of the Gualala River at Hauser Bridge is a tiny trickle
right now. Trees in the forest are showing drought stress dead foliage, early
leaf drop, or dying outright. Grape vines need water. Several vineyards along
Seaview Ridge draft water from the river in the winter months in addition to
sinking wells and storing water in reservoirs for the dry summer months. Wine
tourism would add additional demand on this scare resource.
CONCLUSION
Expanded support and promotion of the Sonoma Coasts natural assets would
bring more people into intimate contact with our forests, ocean, beaches and

rivers to win more stewards for the long term preservation of these irreplaceable
treasures. Dont make them a scenic background for more vineyards, tasting
rooms and event centers.
Sincerely,
Carolyne Singer