Napa Planning Commission Meeting on Ace & Vine, Tonewood, and Silverado Trail - March 7, 2024
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Napa Planning Commission Regular Meeting – March 7, 2024
The Napa Planning Commission held a regular meeting on March 7, 2024, at 5:30 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The commission approved the consent calendar, forwarded a recommendation to the City Council to expand the Ace & Vine card room from nine to eleven tables, approved a use permit for a new music retail and performance venue (Tonewood & Courage), and conducted a preliminary design review for a 20‑unit condominium project at 1765 Silverado Trail. Public comment addressed both hearing items and a previous meeting’s decorum.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously: The regular meeting minutes of February 15, 2024.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jim Hinton (45 Spring Street, Napa) – Commented on non‑agenda items, criticizing Commissioner Masaro’s behavior at the prior meeting (excessive questions before public comment, perceived aggressiveness) and urged commissioners to learn codes and standards. Also spoke in favor of the Ace & Vine card room expansion, noting his experience playing poker and stating that as long as parking is adequate, there is no problem. He referenced ongoing litigation between BVK Gaming and the Long family but said approval would likely be supported regardless of outcome.
- No other public comments were made on non‑agenda items or on the Tonewood & Courage use permit.
Discussion Items
- 7A – Ace & Vine Card Room Expansion (505 Lincoln Avenue): Staff presented a request to amend Napa Municipal Code §5.16.140 to increase the maximum operable card tables from nine to eleven, and to modify the existing use permit accordingly. The applicant (Jeff Dodd of Pulvora) supported the change, noting that state law (AB 341) allows additional tables but does not require the city to permit them. The site already has twelve tables; only nine are currently allowed to operate. Staff reported no negative impacts from 24‑hour operations (approved in 2021) and the Napa Police Department has no concerns. The commission asked clarifying questions about the total table cap (12) and ADA compliance. Public comment (Jim Hinton) supported. The commission voted to forward a recommendation to the City Council to adopt the ordinance and approve the amended use permit (unanimous).
- 7B – Tonewood and Courage Use Permit (1300 First Street, Suite 212): Staff (Paul O’Neill) presented a request for a use permit to allow a retail music store with joint entertainment (live acoustic performances), alcohol service (ABC Type 90 license), and extended hours (last call at 10 PM, close at 11 PM). Over 26 late communications of support were received, including from neighboring businesses such as Archer Hotel. Noise will be limited to 67 dB from nearest property line; doors must remain closed during performances. The applicant, Brian Courtney (with wife Deb), described the business as an acoustic‑focused music shop offering lessons, master classes, and community play‑along nights. The commission praised the project, noting it fills a gap left by the closure of the prior music store and will enhance downtown vibrancy. No public comment. The commission voted unanimously to approve the use permit.
- 8A – 1765 Silverado Trail Pre‑Application: Staff introduced a preliminary design review for a 20‑unit condominium project (16 two‑bedroom, 4 one‑bedroom) on a 0.92‑acre site. The project would require a height of 53 ft (44 ft roof plus elevator/railings), reduced side and rear yards, and other waivers under state density bonus law (10% moderate‑income units). The applicant/owner/architect Jorge Engel presented his vision to preserve mature coast live oaks and integrate the building using cross‑laminated timber. Commissioners raised concerns about traffic safety (sharp turn onto Silverado Trail, Caltrans review needed), parking (30 spaces, no guest parking, potential for on‑street parking after sidewalk connection), solar shading from trees, and the building’s architectural elevation details. Multiple commissioners complimented the design and tree preservation. No formal action was taken; the pre‑application serves as feedback for a future formal application.
- Commissioner Comments: Commissioner Masaro proposed agendizing a future administrative report to discuss design standards and objectives as input for the city’s upcoming zoning code update and objective design standards consultant. The commission agreed. Commissioner Huether expressed frustration with a late communication from a housing advocacy organization (formerly CARLA) that threatened litigation; he called the letter “insulting” and stated the commission is aware of state housing laws.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously.
- 7A – Ace & Vine Card Room Expansion: Motion to forward recommendation to City Council to adopt ordinance and approve use permit (increase to 11 tables). Passed unanimously.
- 7B – Tonewood and Courage Use Permit: Motion to approve staff recommendation. Passed unanimously.
- 8A – 1765 Silverado Trail Pre‑Application: No action taken; commissioners provided feedback and guidance for the applicant’s formal submission.
- Future Item: A discussion on design standards for the zoning code update will be agendized as an administrative report.
Meeting Transcript
Or City of Napa regular meeting for the Planning Commission. Roll call, please. Commissioner Huther. Present. Commissioner Masaro. Present. Commissioner Myers. Present. Vice Chair Kelly. Present. And Chair Shotwell. Present. We will now rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. To the Republic for which it stands. One nation underlying individual liberty of justice for all. The Planning Commission conducts all meetings in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act. And pursuant to the city's rule of order for Planning Commission meetings. Staff, are there any changes to this evening's agenda? There are none. Commissioners, any proposed changes to this evening's agenda. None. Public comment. Public comment provides an opportunity for members of the public to directly address the planning commission on items of interest not otherwise noted on the agenda. Each speaker's comments will be limited to three minutes and will comply with the rules of order for planning commission meetings. Do we have any members of the public who wish to provide public comments on non-agenda items? Welcome. Good evening, Jim Hinton, 45 Spring Street, Napa, California. I missed the last meeting. I was in Madrid, Spain. Went to a lot of art museums there, saw a lot of the public art there. I saw, of course, Picasso, Dali, Van Gogh, Monet. I didn't see any Gordon Houther, though. That was I was shocked. I just uh didn't see you over there, Gordon. But here, you're everywhere. And at the meeting before the last one, Gordon was excused because he's gonna work on the project for the Foxbow. But here he gets every project, but none none in Madrid. I wonder why that is. Anyways, um, at that last meeting, I didn't speak, I was just here listening and watching. And um, you know, in the beginning of the meeting got held up for the people that wanted to speak, because one of the commissioners, uh, Commissioner Masaro, he was just going on and on with these questions that I thought he probably should have vented before the meeting when he met with the developer or whatever, or he should know some of the standards and codes already or whatever. But uh the meeting got held up before public comment. Well, he asked a bunch of questions first, and at the end, you know, you had the architect up here, and he was going on and on with this drama and all this other stuff, because evidently they only met the city standards and they didn't have gold plated toilets or something like that that were the Bob Masaro standards or whatever. But I just thought that some of the drama was unnecessary, but a lot of the questions and all this in the tone of the voice and the hyperness and the aggressiveness, it just really wasn't called for whether I agree with putting a hotel there or not. I mean, we have rules and laws, and you know, we don't need people to jump higher than they need to jump just because you didn't get the work or whatever. So in the future, it'd be nice to either have you wait till the end after public comments, but at least you know learn some of the the our codes and standards first. Thank you. Thank you, Jim. Do we have any other members of the public that wish to comment on anything that is not on one of the agendas? Okay, great.
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