An attorney for one of the world’s largest wineries — Delicato Wines — has questioned whether the City of Manteca properly circulated the environmental report for Manteca’s proposed general plan update.

The letter sent to the city by land use attorney Steve Herum pointed out issues in the legal process the city is required to follow when circulating environmental documents. That prompted staff Thursday to remove the certification of the environmental impact report from the Planning Commission agenda.

The actual reason for the delay wasn’t offered until Herum stepped up to the podium requesting that the city share with the public the reason for the postponement.

Herum indicated it was reasonable to do so as staff keeps stressing how important it is to get the general plan in place, yet there have been continuous delays.

The delay also postponed the commission considering recommending to the City Council whether to approve the update to what is essentially the city’s blueprint for growth.

Staff agreed to the delay indicating they wanted to make sure all interested parties had the opportunity to comment on the updated EIR document.

 The first visionary update workshop for the Manteca general plan was conducted on March 27, 2016. City officials said it would take roughly two years or so to accomplish.

Manteca had 77,030 residents back then.

Now 7 years and 1 month later, the effort to get an update in place has hit another hiccup.

Manteca is now on the cusp of 90,000 residents.

Arguably the biggest point of contention in the general plan update is what Manteca has in mind if and when they annex land around Delicato Wines.

Delicato has repeatedly expressed concerns that Manteca’s development plans could threaten the viability of the family owned operation that was launched 99 years ago on what is today the southwest quadrant of the French Camo Road and Highway 99 interchange

The winery, which just underwent a major expansion, employs upwards of 500 people year round including many at salary levels that Manteca officials covet as  head-of-household jobs.

Delicato has pushed for a deep buffer — an area of agriculture, open space or minimally developed rural estates — to protect the winery from future complaints about noise and smells.

The city’s plan includes somewhat of an open space buffer.

It relies heavily, though, on future business parks doing much of what Delicato believes is an essential buffer area.

Delicato’s concern logically flows from the illogical decision making of people who think Amazon creates burgundy wine  in the bowels of the Internet and didn’t bother to wonder what that imposing tank farm was on the horizon behind where their dream home is being built.

At the same time, Delicato doesn’t believe business parks close to the winery will be a compatible use for the same reasons housing wouldn’t be.

Nearly every small farmer and other landowners in the area will tell you that they have had home developers knocking on their doors but not a single light industrial park developer.

They are smart people. They can do the math. A business park zone means they likely won’t receive top dollar for their land or perhaps not even find a buyer in the next 20 years.   

Several neighbors of the winery have previously said they approached the family-owned business about buying their land but it didn’t spark an interest.

It has prompted some nearby landowners that agree with the city’s general plan as proposed to argue Delicato is trying to get the city to create a buffer for them at no cost. They point to Gallo Winery in Modesto — the world’s largest winery — and note there are homes around it.

Planning staff on Thursday did not indicate when the general plan update as well as the accompanying EIR would be back before the commission.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com