Sonoma County is positioning to become a major commercial cannabis cultivation center. Napa and Marin Counties have prohibited cannabis cultivation. Humboldt County has approved it with very strong protections for adjacent residential properties including a 1000-foot setback and a conditional use permit providing a public hearing and environmental review.
Sonoma County has taken a different approach and will approve Commercial cannabis cultivation on parcels 10 acres or more through a ministerial permit which allows it in Agricultural zone districts without public hearings or environmental review. Setbacks for a commercial cultivation area are only 300 feet from a residence on an adjoining residential parcel and 100 feet from the property line. There would be no opportunity for residential property owners to have a say on how a commercial cannabis project might impact residential use of their property. The only option would be to file a lawsuit.
The proposed cannabis ordinance is scheduled for the Board of Supervisors review in late April. Let your Supervisor know it’s important to provide a setback of at least 1,000 feet from our homes and the ability to have a say in our future.
— Vi Strain, Petaluma
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