Planning Commission approves Twin Rocks Winery accessory restaurant and expanded event allowances with noise and attendance conditions

The Placer County Planning Commission on Oct. 23 approved a conditional-use permit to allow an accessory-use restaurant at the Twin Rocks Estate Winery (6635 Cabot Stallman Road) and granted a zoning clearance to align the property—s event allowances with the county—s wineries and farm-breweries ordinance.

Senior Planner David Olroy Uraz presented the proposal, which would convert an existing 438-square-foot storage area inside the winery to a commercial kitchen and replace an on-site food truck with indoor food service. The proposal does not add building square footage and retains the existing limit of 203 visitors per day established in the winery—s administrative review permit. Staff—s environmental review concluded the project is consistent with the previously adopted mitigated negative declaration for the site; an addendum addressed updated noise mitigation measures.

The winery requested unlimited agricultural promotional events under the county ordinance but proposed a cap at 208 promotional events and 12 annual special events (special events allow up to 200 attendees). Agricultural promotional events are limited to 50 attendees and are defined in county code as events primarily intended to promote the agricultural product (for example, winemaker dinners, release parties, pickup parties). Special events include weddings, private parties and fundraisers where the agricultural component is secondary or where outside alcohol may be allowed.

Because a nearby residence sits roughly 330 feet from proposed event areas, county-required acoustic modeling was provided. The study recommended speaker-output and orientation limits, a pre-event sound check, speaker orientation to the north for event area 1 and a prohibition on amplified sound between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Staff included those measures as conditions of approval. Parking for events will be accommodated with 80 overflow spaces improved with aggregate base and wheel stops and a 25-foot drive-aisle for maneuvering.

Public testimony was mixed. Some neighbors urged denial, citing noise, traffic and concern that an "accessory" restaurant effectively functions as a full-service commercial restaurant in a residential-agricultural zoning district. Supporters, including nearby homeowners and frequent patrons, said they prefer an indoor kitchen over a food truck for safety, quality and year-round service and described the winery as a tourism asset.

After hearing public comment the commission modified staff Condition 3 to clarify food service will be limited to parties who have purchased a wine tasting (the applicant had requested an accessory restaurant that pairs food with wine tastings). The applicant and owner representatives agreed to the modified condition on the record. The commission then approved the CEQA addendum and the CUP and zoning clearance, with the following roll-call votes recorded: Yes — Johnson, Renting, Watts, Jewell, Alves, Beckler. No commissioners recorded dissent.

Staff advised that any amplified event must comply with the sound-level limits in the noise study and that event dates will be posted on the winery website at least seven days in advance. The commission noted appeal rights for parties who commented or submitted written testimony on the item.