Court date set for appeal on winery ordinance

A legal challenge to San Diego County’s tiered winery ordinance is scheduled to be heard on Friday, June 14.

San Diego Citizenry Group, represented by Coast Law Group, filed an appeal over a year ago to Judge Timothy Taylor’s April 15, 2011, ruling in favor of the ordinance that allows boutique wineries by right to open tasting rooms on A70 or A72 agricultural-zoned land. The judge also required the citizenry group to pay nearly $16,500 for administrative costs.

Taylor’s ruling came after the citizenry group challenged the county supervisors’ approval of the environmental impact report for the winery ordinance.

Oral arguments for San Diego Citizenry Group versus County of San Diego are open to the public and scheduled for 9 a.m., Friday, June 14, in the Fourth Appellate District Division 1 at 750 B St. in San Diego.

Since the tiered winery ordinance went into effect, approximately 21 wineries in the Ramona area have opened tasting rooms or patios.