Title
Public hearing to consider adoption of a Negative Declaration prepared for 7 pending applications that would permit commercial cannabis activities at 5 different locations within the northern portion of unincorporated Monterey County.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution to approve the Negative Declaration prepared for 7 pending commercial cannabis permit applications at 5 different sites located in the North Monterey County unincorporated area.
SUMMARY
A draft initial study (IS) for 7 cannabis applications in the North Monterey County area was funded by the applicants for the permits and submitted to the County for review. County staff has reviewed the document for compliance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and made edits so that what is being presented to the Board of Supervisors reflects the County's independent judgement. The IS reflecting the County's independent judgement found that the approval of the 7 pending cannabis projects would not result in any significant environmental impacts, and consequently, staff prepared a Negative Declaration (ND) pursuant to CEQA.
The purpose of this IS/ND (Attachment B) is to help facilitate processing land use permits for the 7 cannabis cultivation sites in North Monterey County (excluding the Moss Landing area). Sites evaluated under this ND will be able to rely on this IS/ND to the extent that the permits are consistent with the analysis and assumptions contained in the IS/ND. They will also be able to submit the IS/ND to the Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC) for state licensing purposes.
Some cannabis operations were allowed to begin ahead of receiving their land use entitlements, so this analysis considers conditions prior to the cannabis industry, as best it can. Cannabis operations were required to locate where there were pre-existing buildings/operations. For example, greenhouses for the cut flower industry that are no longer activ...
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