Amador County – The Amador County Planning Commission plans public hearings today for a request by the Amador Vintners Association seeking an amendment to its sign permit, and another request by C.G. Di Arie Vineyard & Winery to place two directional signs on private property outside of the county road right-of-way.

Jamie Lubenko representing Amador Vintners Association, seeks a change in a 2008 permit that granted the ability to place multiple directional signs around the county for the different winery members of the Vintners Association. The signs were to not exceed 10 square feet, except for allowed at 13-and-a-half square feet to allow lettering.

A planning staff report said in early 2010, the Vintners Association “installed signs which did not meet the criteria.” The signs ultimately “were determined to be ineffective due to the reduced lettering size and a potential hazard due to the use of steel posts that did not meet breakaway standards.”

The Association proposed 4-inch high lettering on the new direction arrow signs, but the Department of Transportation and Public Works recommended 6-inch lettering, to conform to new state law requiring a minimum of 6-inch lettering on road signs.

The Vintners Association proposal includes about 20 signs located all over the county, including five on Highway 16 at Latrobe, Willow Creek, Highway 49 and Cedar Creek Road. It would also place signs on 49 at Ridge Road, and facing the westbound lane at 88 & 49 and 88 & 124. Other locations include Shenandoah and Shenandoah School Roads, Fiddletown Road, Cedar Creek, Steiner and others.

Instead of winery names, the signs give directions to roads on which AVA wineries are located, with a 22-inch wide topper sign with the Amador Vintners Association logo. The association application lists $11,600 in costs for the new signs. The Association also would need permission from cities of Sutter Creek and Jackson at two proposed locations.

The C.G. Di Arie Winery seeks to locate signs along Shenandoah Road near the intersection of Shenandoah Road and Shenandoah School Road. The proposed sign is 4 by 2-and-a-half feet, or 10 square feet.

The winery’s sign request was originally tabled by the Planning Commission until Janurary 2012, until the Vintners Association signs were approved. But C.G. Di Arie is asking for at least a temporary approval of the permit until January 2012.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.