Town of Yountville
Resolution Number 26-4426
A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF YOUNTVILLE
CONDITIONALLY APPROVING AN APPLICATION FOR A USE PERMIT AMENDMENT AND SIGN PERMIT FOR PANCHA’S BAR AT 6764 WASHINGTON
STREET AND FINDING THE PROJECT TO BE EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT.
Recitals
A. On May 25, 1993, the Town Council adopted Resolution 964-93 approving a Use Permit for Pancha’s bar to operate at 6764 Washington Street.
B. On September 17, 2024, the Town Council adopted Resolution 24-4308 approving a Use Permit Amendment to allow a 212-square foot addition to a non-conforming building and approving a Design Review Permit for exterior modifications to an existing one-story commercial building at 6764 Washington Street.
C. YMC Section 17.200.040(B) authorizes the ZDRB to recommend approval, conditional approval, or denial of applications for use permits to the Town Council based on the findings required by YMC section 17.200.060.
D. YMC Section 17.200.040(B) authorizes the Town Council to approve, conditionally approve, or deny applications for use permits based on the findings required by YMC section 17.200.060.
E. YMC Section 17.200.070 authorizes the Town’s reviewing authority to impose conditions of approval deemed reasonable and necessary to ensure commercial use permits will be in compliance with the findings required by YMC Section
17.200.060.
F. YMC Chapter 17.152 authorizes the ZDRB to approve, conditionally approve, or deny applications for sign permits for projecting signs based on the findings required by YMC section 17.152.020.H.
G. YMC Section 17.180.020.G requires projects requiring multiple land use applications to be processed concurrently and decided upon by the highest-level review authority for any of the permit types.
H. On April 7, 2026, the Town received a complete application for a use permit amendment to permit use of the rear patio and garden, increase the number of permitted special events with amplified music at 6764 Washington Street, APN 036-033-015 and for a sign permit for a projecting sign (the “Application”).
I. Notice of the public hearing on the Application has been provided in accordance with YMC sections 17.200.050, 17.152.090, and 17.180.040.
J. At a Regular Meeting of the ZDRB held on May 12, 2026, the ZDRB reviewed the Staff Report and received a presentation on the Application, as well as public comment thereon and adopted Resolution Number 26-033 recommending the Town Council approve the Application, subject to the attached conditions of approval.
K. At a Regular Meeting of the Town Council held on June 16, 2026, the Town Council reviewed the Staff Report and received a presentation on the Application as well as public comment thereon.
Now, therefore, the Town Council of the Town of Yountville does resolve as follows:
SECTION 1. RECITALS: The foregoing recitals are true and correct and are incorporated into the findings herein.
SECTION 2: RECORD: The Record of Proceedings ("Record") upon which the Town Council bases its decisions includes, but is not limited to: (1) the staff reports, Town files and records and other documents prepared for and/or submitted to the Town relating to the Application, (2) the evidence, facts, findings and other determinations set forth in this resolution, (3) the Town of Yountville General Plan and its certified final EIR and the Yountville Municipal Code, (4) all designs, plans, studies, data and correspondence submitted to the Town in connection with the Application, (5) all documentary and oral evidence received at public workshops, meetings, and hearings or submitted to the Town, and (6) all other matters of common knowledge to the Zoning and Design Review Board including, but not limited to, Town, state, and federal laws, policies, rules, regulations, reports, records and projections related to development within the Town of Yountville and its surrounding areas.
The location and custodian of the records is the Town of Yountville Planning and Building Department at 6550 Yount St, Yountville, CA 94599.
SECTION 3. CEQA FINDINGS: Based on the Record as described above and all matters deemed material and relevant prior to adopting this resolution, the Town Council determines this project to be exempt per the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines sections 15301(e), which exempts minor alteration and additions to existing private structures, and 15061(b)(3), which exempts activities that can be seen with certainty to not have a significant effect on the environment. None of the exceptions to the categorical exemptions set forth in CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 apply.
SECTION 4. USE PERMIT FINDINGS:
The Town Council hereby makes its decision based on the following findings as required by YMC Section 17.200.060 with respect to the Application at issue based on the evidence contained in the Record which is herein incorporated by reference:
A. The proposed use, at the intensity represented and at the proposed location, will provide a use that is compatible with the neighborhood and community; The proposed use is a commercial use of a similar scale and intensity of those located adjacent to the site and along the North Washington Street Commercial Corridor. The proposed use will occur at the rear of the site and will not be visible from the public rightof-way. The existing fence and landscaping along the subject site’s east property line will screen the use from abutting residential uses to the east, which will minimize potential visual impacts of the use. Additionally, the use will conform to the Regulations for Impacts on Adjacent Uses established in YMC Section 17.144.
B. The proposed use will not be detrimental to the health, safety, convenience or general welfare of persons residing or working in the vicinity, or injurious to property, improvements or potential development in the vicinity;
The proposed use with associated conditions of approval will not be detrimental to the health, safety, convenience or general welfare of persons residing or working in the vicinity, nor will they be injurious to property, improvements or potential developments in the vicinity in that the use consists of seasonal outdoor patio seating and periodic Special Events in conformance with the standards of the OTC, Old Town Commercial Zoning District and General Plan Designation, and the Regulations for Impacts on Adjacent Uses.
C. The proposed use would not conflict with the Town's goal of achieving economic sustainability with a mix of varied commercial services; The proposed use of the rear patio and garden will further activate the North Washington Street commercial corridor, enhance the economic viability of a key community service, and ensure the continued use of a community landmark.
D. The proposed use will not impair accessibility or traffic patterns for persons and vehicles based on the type and volume of anticipated traffic, will provide safe and adequate ingress and egress, and will furnish adequate off-street parking and loading for both customers and employees to the extent deemed feasible by the decision-making body;
The proposed operational changes will not alter any traffic patterns, and the proposed upgrades to the parking lot will further delineate existing parking in accordance with the Town’s design standards. The enrollment of staff in the Town’s Employee Parking Management Program will mitigate any parking impacts created by the increase in staff needed during special events.
E. The proposed use provides sufficient safeguards to prevent noxious or offensive emissions such as glare, dust and odors, or levels of noise which may exceed the Town's noise regulations;
The proposed use is not anticipated to create any additional emissions, and a condition of approval requires regular operations on the back patio to conform to the Town’s noise regulations. Special events featuring amplified music will occur during what are considered daytime hours by the noise regulations and will end at 8:30 PM.
F. The proposed use does not require excessive amounts of water or generate excessive amounts of waste;
The proposed use will not require excessive amounts of water or generate excessive amounts of waste.
G. The existing or proposed utility, police and fire services are adequate to serve the proposed use;
As conditioned, the Project will be adequately served by emergency services and will meet the requirements for adequate utility, police, and fire services.
H. The proposed use will comply with all applicable provisions of Title 17 and will be consistent with the policies and standards of the General Plan; and The proposed use will comply with all applicable provisions of Title 17 and will be consistent with the policies and standards of the General Plan, as analyzed in the staff report prepared for this resolution, incorporated in the Record.
SECTION 5. SIGN PERMIT FINDINGS:
The Town Council hereby makes its decision based on the following findings as required by YMC Section 17.152.020.H. with respect to the Application at issue based on the evidence contained in the Record which is herein incorporated by reference:
1. The sign may not be attached to a structure other than a building; The subject sign is attached to the south parapet wall of the building.
2. The sign may not be internally illuminated;
The Conditions of Approval include a provision prohibiting the use of the internal illumination function of the subject sign.
3. The sign may only be as high as the eave line of the building surface to which it is attached or 11 feet above grade, whichever is lower;
The subject sign is below the eave line of the building.
4. The sign may not be lower than seven feet if over a walkway, in order to provide safe access to pedestrians;
The subject sign is not less than 7ft from a walkway and does not impact pedestrian access
5. The outside edge of the sign may not project more than four feet from the surface of the building to which it is attached;
The projection of the subject sign from the building surface is less than two (2) feet.
6. The sign may not contain more than six square feet of display area on each side; The area of the sign is approximately 38 square inches on each side.
7. The sign may not be more than three inches or less than one-half inch thick; and The sign is three inches in thickness.
8. The sign may not project into or over a public right-of-way.
The subject sign is setback from the front façade and porch. It does not project into the public right-of-way.
SECTION 6. DETERMINATION: The Town Council hereby conditionally approves the Application for a Use Permit Amendment to allow outdoor seating on the rear patio and garden, and increase the permitted number of special events with amplified music and a Sign Permit for a projecting sign at 6764 Washington Street, subject to the Conditions of Approval set forth in Exhibit A, attached hereto and incorporated by reference, and find the proposed improvements to be exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines sections 15301(e) (existing facilities) and 15061(b)(3) (common sense exemption) SECTION 7: CERTIFICATION: The Town Clerk shall attest and certify to the passage and adoption of this Resolution, and it shall become effective immediately upon its approval.
SECTION 8: EFFECTIVE DATE: This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its approval.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Town Council of the Town of Yountville, State of California, held on this 16th day of June 2026, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
_____________________
Margie Mohler, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________
Hilary Gaede, Communications Director/Town Clerk
Exhibit A: Conditions of Approval
Exhibit B: Project Plans