Title
REF190027 - Industrial Hemp Pilot Program
Public hearing to consider:
a. Adoption of an ordinance adding Chapter 21.49 to Title 21 to the Monterey County Code (non-coastal zoning) to create an industrial hemp combining zoning district ("HMP" District) containing limited pilot program regulations for cultivation and processing of industrial hemp; and amending Chapter 21.08 of the Monterey County Code to add the HMP District to the list of combining regulations and to amend the zoning classification to apply the HMP zoning designation to certain properties in the unincorporated area. This ordinance would establish a limited industrial hemp pilot program with regulations restricting the size, location, and number of industrial hemp cultivators in the inland unincorporated areas of Monterey County; or
b. Adoption of a policy interpretation that industrial hemp cultivation and processing are not a similar use to cannabis and allow industrial hemp to be cultivated and processed as an agricultural product County-wide.
Location: County-wide
Proposed CEQA action: The ordinance is categorically exempt pursuant to Sections 15305 and 15306 of the CEQA Guidelines and the interpretation would not qualify as a "project" pursuant to the definition contained in Section 65931 of the CEQA Guidelines.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Find that the ordinance represents a minor alteration in land use limitations and applies for a limited term for the purposes of collecting information on industrial hemp cultivation which is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Sections 15305 and 15306 and none of the exceptions listed in Section 15300.2 apply; and
b. Adopt an ordinance (Exhibit A) adding Chapter 21.49 to Title 21 of the Monterey County Code (non-coastal zoning) to create an industrial hemp combining zoning district ("HMP" District) containing limited pilot program regulations for cultivation...
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