May 7, 2021 — The Planning Commission hammered out further refinements to the proposed cannabis cultivation ordinance at a meeting that ended at a civilized hour yesterday.
The Board of Supervisors is anxious to pass a phase III ordinance before June 30, after which the state will require environmental review that county counsel estimates could take three to five years. But the board made significant enough changes to the planning commission’s original suggestions that the document needed another round trip through the deliberating bodies.
The least popular proposed amendment is one that would allow growers in agland and rangeland to grow cannabis on up to 10% of their parcel size, provided there’s enough water and that the land has been previously used for agriculture. Already, citizens’ groups are preparing to gather signatures for two referenda that would repeal all or part of whatever ordinance the board eventually passes. One letter-writer promised the Commission that she intends to work every day on the referendum if commissioners support the ordinance as presented by the Board of Supervisors.