Permit ACO25-0078

The project involves the replanting of 148.09 acres of vineyard at 3343, 3351, and 3453 Piner Rd., Santa Rosa, California, under Permit ACO25-0078 issued by Sonoma County. The activity is classified as a ministerial action under Chapter 36 of the Sonoma County Code and adheres strictly to the Best Management Practices and Technical Report Guidelines for New Vineyard and Orchard Development, Vineyard and Orchard Replanting, and Agricultural Grading and Drainage (VESCO), with no deviations sought from established standards. The project qualifies for a categorical exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) due to its compliance with existing regulatory criteria, eliminating the need for discretionary review or environmental impact analysis. Approval is contingent upon verification by the Sonoma County Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures that all replanting activities meet the technical and procedural requirements outlined in Sonoma County Code 36.02.070.A. The applicant, Don Hartford of Piner Holding LLC, and the project implementer, Shaun Kajiwara of Jackson Family Wines, are responsible for execution, while the County agency oversees compliance and final acceptance at the project site. No procurement solicitation, contractual pricing, payment terms, or federal acquisition regulation clauses apply; the process is administrative and compliance-based rather than a competitive or financially structured contract. The Notice of Exemption was filed on September 8, 2025, with the posting date on September 9, 2025, and a public comment period of 30 days, though no formal evaluation factors, award mechanisms, or contractor representations were required or documented. Submissions must include a certified exemption document and be delivered to both the Sonoma County Clerk’s office and the State Office of Planning and Research, with no electronic submission options specified.