‘ANGER’ against glamping: Napa residents rally to block proposed resort

Opposition among Napanen to a proposed glamping resort with up to 100 caravans and tents has increased in recent weeks.

The project – proposed for a 12½-acre parcel west of Silverado Trail between Hagen Road and Stonecrest Drive – will soon go before the Napa City Council, although no specific date has yet been set.

The Grange Campground would be operated by outdoor lodging company AutoCamp, which operates similar resorts across the country, including AutoCamp Russian River in Guerneville.

The City of Napa Planning Commission on Oct. 17 recommended the City Council approve the project.

Public concerns were prominent at the time. For over an hour, more than two dozen people voiced concerns about the project related to increased traffic, fire risk, environmental impacts and more.

The group Residents Against Glamping Establishment, or RAGE, was recently formed to oppose the campsite. They started a change.org petition asking the city council to deny the project.

The petition, which had 476 signatures as of Thursday, suggests the campsite will mainly benefit tourists and not local Napans.

Other concerns it cites include:

• Increased traffic congestion and risk of accidents. (Planning Commissioner Paul Kelley suggested adding a left turn from the Silverado Trail as a condition of approval.)

• Increased risk of injury for cyclists. (The petition says a proposed bike path near the development would not extend beyond Lincoln Avenue or Trancas Street, so cyclists would be exposed to the dangerous Silverado Trail.)

• The risk of wildfires associated with outdoor grills and associated air pollution.

• Destruction of natural habitat, including the removal of eight oak trees.

• Increased pressure on Napa’s water, sewer, and electrical infrastructure.

• Concerns about such a facility in a residential area.

Ricky Caperton, the city’s planning manager, said in an emailed statement that the city has seen misinformation about the project in social media posts online. In response he said:

• Campers are not allowed to bring their own caravans, campers or tents to the campsite.

• Campers can only burn AutoCamp’s special “GoodWood” firewood in portable outdoor fireplaces that meet city code.

• The project includes up to 70 stationary Airstream units and up to 30 tent/yurt structures, which can be removed during the flood season, November through April.

• There will be at least one staff member on site 24/7, with additional staff usually available.

• Parking is on site and it is forbidden for campers to park along the facade or in nearby residential areas.

Brian Bennett, a resident who has led the opposition movement against the project, said the website has reached almost 1,300 visitors in 12 days since it was published. The group has posted signs along the Silverado Trail and handed out 2,000 flyers.

A GoFundMe started by Bennett also raised $6,825 on Thursday.

Bennett highlighted existing traffic safety issues on Silverado Trail as a major concern. According to the Transportation Injury Mapping System, 46 traffic violations have been reported over the past decade on the 1.1-mile stretch between Lincoln Avenue and Trancas Street, which runs along the project area. These included 18 unsafe speed violations, 10 DUIs and 17 incidents involving hitting objects or people, he said.

“People are driving fast, hitting things and drinking,” Bennett said.

City staff and representatives of the applicant responded to some of the concerns raised in an emailed public comment during the Oct. 17 meeting.

To address fire concerns, city planner Ryder Dilley said visitors would only burn GoodWood, a wood product that generates fewer sparks than regular firewood. He added that staff would directly monitor safe fire practices, with fire extinguishers at every campsite and strict adherence to fire regulations.

Bernie Corea, AutoCamp’s director of acquisitions, added at the meeting that they use special grills with a raised surface that provides protection against smoke and sparks, along with the GoodWood – which he said one bag would burn for up to an hour.

“It really makes for a very tame experience,” Corea said. “It burns very quickly, it’s not like traditional wood burning material, it’s really just for ambiance, and we strictly monitor and limit it.”

Commissioner Beverly Shotwell said at the meeting that the project will protect the environment more than anything else it is intended for, unless it is a park. She agreed with some of the concerns, especially around traffic, but said she is a fan of what AutoCamp is doing with their sites.

“You have to make sure that we honor the fact that the landowner has an opportunity to destroy it or do something really useful,” Shotwell told the crowd. “I can’t think of anything more useful.”

You can reach staff writer Edward Booth at 707-521-5281 or [email protected].