KNGG Statements

KNGG’s letter to the Napa County CEO and Napa County Planning Manager regarding the lack of clarity and apparent inaccuracies in the recent presentation by the Napa County Planning Staff during the May 21, 2024 Board of Supervisor Meeting.

KNGG’s response to supporters following the Napa County Board of Supervisors’s meeting on May 21, 2024.

KNGG’s press release “The Battle for Napa's Future: Defending Napa's Agricultural Legacy Against Over-Development”, May 29, 2024.

In preparation for the Napa County Board of Supervisor’s meeting on May 21st at 9am, where they will vote on adopting a re-zoning (up-zoning) ordinance for multi-family housing development on the Foster Road site, KNGG has provided a sample letter for your use in its entirety or do a cut/paste version, as you like.  We have also developed a list of talking points for your consideration. In addition, KNGG has submitted a written comment to the Napa County Board of Supervisors in advance of the May 21, 2024 Public Hearing.

KNGG’s response to the Napa County Planning Commission’s request for comments on Napa County’s Draft Housing Elements (HE) and Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) in which KNGG requests that the County Planning Commission reject this up zoning of AG to RM for the FRMU plan and follow the directive of the City of Napa’s Planning Commission’s recommendation for Greenbelt designation of these parcels, April 30, 2024.

KNGG’s statement to the City and County of Napa on the Draft Housing Elements and Draft Environmental Impact Report, January 21, 2023.

KNGG’s statement in advance of the General Plan Adoption Hearing - v2.0 - September 1, 2022.

KNGG's response to GPAC Draft Napa General Plan Proposal 2040, January 11, 2021.

Community Member Statements

Citizen of Napa addressing the City Council, September 20, 2022.

Citizen of Napa addressing City Council, September 20, 2022.

Citizen of Napa addressing the Planning Commission, September 1, 2022.

Citizen of Napa addressing the Planning Commission, September 1, 2022.

Articles and Studies

“Measure to slow development in San Benito County qualifies for ballot”, Bay Area News Group, Paul Rogers, June 3, 2024.
”Napa, Sonoma and Ventura counties already require voter approval to change the zoning and develop orchards, ranchlands, vineyards and farms. Backers of the ballot measure say San Benito County needs that protection also.”
Perhaps y’all should get ahead and let them know about how Napa County’s “protection” for its agricultural land is working out…

“Napa County Starts Rezoning for Multi-family Housing Sites”, Napa Valley Register, Barry Eberling, May 1, 2024.

“Law that ended single-family zoning is struck down for five Southern California cities”, Los Angeles Times, Liam Dillon, Apr 29, 2024.

"First District Holds Development Agreement For Affordable Housing Project Subject to Referendum Power", Land Use Law Blog, William W Abbott and Garrett Bergthold, Apr 23, 2024.

“‘Battle Royal’ Looming For Housing Development on Marin Waterfront”, San Francisco Chronicle, JK Dineen, Feb 2, 2024.

“These New California Housing Laws Are Going Into Effect in 2024”, KQED, Erin Baldassari, Jan 2, 2024.

“New laws seek to end private developer risk, burdening public instead”, 48 Hills, Zelda Bronstein, Nov 6, 2023

"Who’s Counting? How McKinsey Hyped California’s Housing Crisis", The Brooklyn Rail, Zelda Bronstein, Apr 2023.

“Letter: Protect farmland, vote no on Measure J”, Napa Valley Register, Hugh Davies, Oct 16, 2022

“California Needs Housing but Must Protect Its Farms”, California Farm Bureau Federation, Kara Heckert, Sept 7, 2022.

"Regional Housing Needs Assessments: The Department of Housing and Community Development Must Improve Its Processes to Ensure That Communities Can Adequately Plan for Housing", Michael S. Tilden, CPA, Acting California State Auditor, Mar 17, 2022.

“Keep big money out of local politics”, Soda Canyon Road website, Elaine de Man, Dec 17, 2021.

"Member of Ghisletta family denies plans for developing lands in south Napa", Napa Valley Register, Howard Yune, Apr 25, 2021.

“Draft Land Use Plan: Is this how we want Napa to look?”, Napa Valley Register, Victoria Lancaster, Apr 2, 2021.

“Foster Road supporters continue push for area’s including in new Napa greenbelts”, Napa Valley Register, Howard Yune, Mar 14, 2021.

"Outlines of land uses take shape in Napa’s new city general plan", Napa Valley Register, Howard Yune, Feb 21, 2021.

"Measure J: Protecting Napa agriculture for the past 30 years", Napa Valley Register, Barry Eberling, Jan 22, 2021.

"Napa committee discusses greenbelts to slow development at city’s edges", Napa Valley Register, Howard Yune, Jan 16, 2021.

“Napa County’s population continues shrinking slowly”, Napa Valley Register, Barry Eberling, Jan 9, 2021.

"Annexing rural lands can only be a last resort", Napa Valley Register, Wakoh Shannon Hickey, Oct 27, 2020.

"Napa City Council hopefuls speak out about land use at candidates' forum", Napa Valley Register, Howard Yune, Sept 24, 2020.

"Debate over Napa's future development turns toward future of Foster Road", Napa Valley Register, Howard Yune, Sept 20, 2020.

"Timberhill, Napa Oaks, Foster Road residents oppose intensive homebuilding in Napa's future general plan", Napa Valley Register, Howard Yune, Sept 9, 2020.

"Do the Math: The state has ordered more than 350 cities to prepare the way for more than 2 million homes by 2030. But what if the math is wrong?", Embarcadero Institute, Sept 2020. 

"No time to waste on protecting our open space", Napa Valley Register, Editorial Board, Mar 8, 2020.

“Proposal to build new homes in certain Clovis location facing backlash”, ABC 30, Jason Oleveira, Mar 2, 2020.

“Napa County’s population drops for the third consecutive year”, Napa Valley Register, Barry Eberling, Jan 2, 2020.

“Napa Pipe faces final approval vote Jan. 21 after city, county agree on housing”, Napa Valley Register, Howard Yune, Dec 19, 2019.

"Favored city development areas come into focus for Napa’s next general plan", Napa Valley Register, Howard Yune, Sept 24, 2019.

“Gov. Newson signs bill to boost housing at Napa Pipe”, Napa Valley Register, Barry Eberling, Oct 14, 2019.

“Foster Road neighbors submit 5,700 signatures for ballot measure”, Napa Valley Register, Natalie Hoffman, Nov 24, 2010.

“New initiative filed against Ghisletta-type annexations”, Napa Valley Register, David Ryan, May 14, 2010.

“How Napa's Ag Preserve beat the odds, and saved the Valley”, Napa Valley Register, L. Pierce Carson, Apr 20, 2008.

“Napa backs out on Ghisletta annexation”, Napa Valley Register, Kevin Courtney and David Ryan, Jan 23, 2008.

“Potential Shaking Intensity for the West Napa Fault, the Concord-Green Valley Fault and the Rodgers Creek Fault”, ABAG, 2003.

Government Plans

In 2023 the City Council adopted the 2023-2032 Housing Element.

In 2022 the City Council adopted the Draft Environmental Impact Report.

In 2015 the City Council adopted the Housing Element - offering objectives and goals to be realized thru 2020.

In 1998 the City Council generated a comprehensive update of the General Plan 2040. 

Government Meeting Agendas and Notes

Napa County Planning Commission Public Hearing Transcript, May 1, 2024.

Napa County Planning Commission Public Hearing Agenda, May 1, 2024.

David Morrison, Interim CEO, County of Napa, January 24, 2023.

Michael Walker, Sr. Planner, City of Napa, addressing Planning Commission, September 1, 2022.

This is the direct link to the City of Napa Planning Commission Meeting, September 1, 2022.

For your viewing pleasure and reference: March 4, 2021 Planning Commission Agenda and documents.

A recording of the Planning Committee Meeting for February 18, 2021 along with the minutes of that meeting.

These are the notes representing a selective recap of the August 2020 GPAC meeting re: land use recommendations. According to our records and understanding we believe these notes are not fully representative of what transpired at the meeting. The video of the August 31 General Plan Advisory Committee Meeting is now available through the City's YouTube Channel.

Land use designations first appeared on the General Plan Advisory Committee agenda in February 2020. These are the notes representing a selective recap of this GPAC meeting re: land use recommendations. According to our records and understanding we believe these notes are not fully representative of what transpired at the meeting.

Government Contacts

City of Napa - City Council Members
Mayor Scott Sedgley (At Large) – ssedgley@cityofnapa.org
Vice Mayor Bernie Narvaez (District 4) – bnarvaez@cityofnapa.org
Councilmember Liz Alessio (District 1) – lalessio@cityofnapa.org
Councilmember Beth Painter (District 2)– bpainter@cityofnapa.org
Councilmember Mary Luros (District 3) – mluros@cityofnapa.org

City of Napa - Planning Commissioners
Paul Kelley, Chair – paul@paulkelleyarchitecture.com
Beverly Shotwell, Vice-chair - shotwellb@sbcglobal.net
Ricky Hurtado - r.hurtado.napa@gmail.com
Bob Massaro – bob@hbusa.net
Gordon Huether – gh@gordonhuether.com

City of Napa - Planning Division Staff
Ricky Caperton, AICP, Planning Manager - rcaperton@cityofnapa.org
Michael Allen, Senior Planner - mallen@cityofnapa.org
Michael Walker, AICP, Senior Planner - mwalker@cityofnapa.org

County of Napa - Planning Commissioners
Kara Brunzell (District 1) - kara.brunzell@countyofnapa.org
Dave Witmer (District 2) - dave.whitmer@countyofnapa.org
Heather Phillips (District 3) - heather.phillips@countyofnapa.org
Andrew Mazotti (District 4) - andrewmazotti@gmail.com
Megan Dameron (District 5) - megan.dameron@countyofnapa.org
Brian Bordona, (Staff Liaison to the Commission) - brian.bordona@countyofnapa.org
Please include Brian Bordona in any emails or written correspondence sent to two or more Commissioners or communications intended for the Commission as a whole.