Wildomar City Council Furious Over Failed Microbrew Ordinance

Wildomar City Council members became hostile Wednesday night during discussion of microbrewers, and the anger was directed at one resident – Martha Bridges.

Bridges had to amend a zoning ordinance that would have exempted potential Wildomar microbrewers from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review and the conditional-use permit process.

CEQA review, among other things, mandates there be public disclosure on projects in which there is environmental impact.

A March 14 protest letter to the city from Bridges stated, “ … a fair argument exists that the ordinance would cause significant environmental impacts regarding traffic, health, safety, (and) water supply … ”

The letter, and one identical signed by Gerard Ste. Marie, was delivered to the City March 14, the same day council was set to approve the amended ordinance. (See attached letter to read what Bridges and Ste. Marie had to say.) After receiving the protest letters, City Attorney Thomas Jex recommended council members postpone their vote until he could review the “significant” concerns presented by the protesters.

After input from Jex, city staff made the recommendation Wednesday to council that the microbrew question be stripped off the tabled -- indefinitely.

This angered council members, but their barbs were directed at Bridges, not staff.

Mayor Ben Benoit and Mayor Pro Tem Tim Walker claimed Bridges was using threat of a “lawsuit” based on the CEQA to prevent microbrewers from coming to Wildomar.

“The fact is, we can’t afford a lawsuit,” Walker, said. “To pull out CEQA … it’s sickening.”

The March 14 letter does not mention legal action (see attached), and Bridges told Patch she has not threatened the city with a lawsuit. Bridges, who is approaching senior citizenship and calls herself an environmentalist, said she has nothing to gain by protesting the proposed zoning ordinance. She said it’s a matter of doing the right thing.

“Staff is not following the law,” Bridges said, alleging that the beer-making industry requires significant water supply to produce its product and therefore careful scrutiny should take place as required by law.

Walker said he didn’t understand Bridges’ contention that water supply for the microbrewing process should have been an environmental consideration.

“We have water – it’s not that big of a deal,” he said.

Benoit blamed Bridges for stifling a potential industry for Wildomar; council members Marsha Swanson and Bridgette Moore also expressed their dissatisfaction and said they were “deeply saddened” that the microbrew issue was off the table.

Jex never offered any public comments on the issue and none of the council members publicly asked him to explain his concerns. Also, council members never questioned staff on the matter, and instead begrudgingly heeded advice to table the issue without discussion beyond the heated rhetoric aimed at Bridges.