Lawsuit Filed Against Santa Clara County Over Fines
Michael Ballard, the owner of Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards in Santa Clara County, California, is suing local officials after being fined over $120,000 for allowing his employee to live in an RV on his property. The fines stem from violations of local zoning laws prohibiting residential use of recreational vehicles on private or public land. Ballard argues that the county’s actions were excessive and unjust, especially given the affordable housing crisis in the region.
Providing Free Housing for Longtime Employee
The employee, Marcelino Martinez, has worked as the vineyard’s manager for years and has lived on the property with his family since 2013. After losing their lease on a trailer home, the Ballard family offered Martinez the opportunity to stay in an RV at the vineyard at no cost. The arrangement allowed Martinez, his wife, and children to remain near the vineyard, where affordable housing options are limited.
“I couldn’t make a family homeless for arbitrary reasons,” Ballard said, defending his decision to provide housing. He emphasized that the human impact outweighed any potential zoning violations.
Daily Fines for Zoning Violations
In 2019, Santa Clara County began fining the vineyard $1,000 daily, later reducing the penalty to $250 per day, for allowing the RV to remain on the property. Ballard claims the fines have totaled more than $120,000, although county officials dispute this figure. They argue that Ballard refused to comply with deadlines set to remove the RV and reduce violations.
The county has also made offers to drastically cut the fines if Ballard agrees to remove the RV, but he has declined, saying the situation highlights a much larger issue of affordable housing.
Vineyard Owner Challenges County’s Priorities
Ballard and his attorney, Paul Avelar, contend that the county’s actions are unconstitutional and excessively punitive. They argue that the county should be focused on addressing larger housing issues, such as the prevalence of mobile homes and homeless encampments in the region.
“Just drive anywhere in the county, there are mobile homes parked all over the place. There are encampments everywhere you go,” Ballard said, criticizing the county’s decision to target his vineyard. “The problem is obvious and overt, yet they’re choosing to prosecute us in probably the least intrusive example of this, where we are letting someone live on private property in a private location and we’re not bothering anyone.”
