L.A. Winery Is Forced to Close Down
One of the first wineries to operate under Los Angeles County’s relaxed rules for commercial winemaking was forced to close this week by the Regional Planning Department, responding to neighbors’ complaints about traffic, noise and other issues.
Agua Dulce Vineyards shut its doors Monday at the insistence of Planning Director James Hartl. The 90-acre vineyard, which opened in October 2001, had been operating under a waiver while the county reviewed its application for a conditional use permit.
On Tuesday, winery co-owner Don MacAdam said the company was being unfairly targeted by a small number of residents in an adjacent subdivision. He said he was trying to persuade officials to reverse their decision before a hearing date, which has been tentatively set for July.
The winery and neighbors have been in a bitter civil court fight involving claims that the winery is using up the residents’ water supplies, which MacAdam denies.
Employee Nancy Young said the winery has been following all of the rules set by the county.
The winery opened soon after county supervisors lifted a 50-year-old ban on commercial winemaking in unincorporated areas.
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