Raise a Glass: Council Opens Doors For Breweries, Wine Makers

With City Manager Dave Witt saying it’s time to “bring the zoning ordinance out of the Dark Ages,” the La Mesa City Council on Tuesday night voted 4-0 to begin steps to allow small-scale microbreweries and wineries in commercial and industrial zones.

Councilman Dave Allan was absent.

Witt said the current ordinance that prohibits such operations is somewhat archaic, and doesn’t really reflect the state of the industry.

Mayor Art Madrid agreed.

“Over the last several years, [microbreweries and wine makers] have been a significant asset to a number of communities,” Madrid aid. “I think it is time we provide the opportunity to allow people with those skills and interests a chance to do so.”

The approval comes as great news to Mike and Linda McWilliams, who own and operate , a wine tasting room in the downtown Village.

The actual winemaking for San Pasqual takes in Pacific Beach. As Linda told the council, she welcomes the chance to “move the product operations within the city as well.”

The facility in Pacific Beach is about 1,500 square feet, according to Mike McWilliams. He said he hopes to purchase a much larger space in La Mesa that would accommodate the operations—something between 3,000 and 5,000 square feet.

The couple said that in celebration of La Mesa’s centennial, they are making a special sparkling wine.

Madrid also reminded the council audience and those watching Channel 24 that the countdown has begun for the “the party of the century,” which will take place Jan. 13, 2013. Some 236 days remain.

Witt said that he did not have a timetable on when the Municipal Code would be amended, but said that it would be done “expeditiously.”

In other council items:

After hearing a presentation from Jerry Fazio, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of East County, the council voted 4-0 to draft a resolution that would seek to build a 30,000-square-foot Boys & Girls Club facility in La Mesa, at Fazio said the facility would include full-court basketball courts, and would be where the current La Mesa Teen Center now sits, at 7775 Junior High Drive.

The council voted 4-0 to add a subsection to the Municipal Code that would install an all-way stop at Center Drive and Health Center Circle.

The council voted 4-0 to adopt a resolution approving the FY2013-FY2017 Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) and TransNet Program for street improvements.

There were also several presentations on the agenda:

• The City of La Mesa received awards from the American Public Works Association. “Project of the Year – Under $2M” went to the city for its La Mesita Park tennis court renovations. “Transportation Project of the Year – Under $2M” went to the city for its Allison Avenue Streetscape Project.
• Vice Mayor Ernie Ewin recognized a group of donors (in the $500-$1,000 range) to the . Ewin said that this year, there were more donors than ever, and that the funds totaled $15,540. Ewin said that $15,000 will go toward operating the parade, and the additional funds will go toward setting up an endowment for future parades.

Students and their advisors from several La Mesa elementary schools received special recognition from the La Mesa Police Department, and earned School Safety Patrol Awards.