LAKEPORT>> This week the Lake County Board of Supervisors heard two different appeals for major use projects, one cannabis related. They also received an update on the Cannabis Task Force that involved much public input. In the wake of Tuesday’s meeting, the county announced that it is seeking applicants to fill vacancies for an alternate member on the Cannabis Ordinance Task Force for each seat category.
Community Development Director Mireya Turner was joined by Cannabis Task Force member and commercial cannabis cultivator Jennifer Smith in delivering an update regarding the cannabis task force and its recommendations for a new cannabis ordinance. Turner ran through several updates, all of which revolved around cannabis cultivation.
One of the recommendations was to increase the Farmland Protection Zones, which are areas of land protected for future farming generations, with a goal of preserving the existing soils and ecosystem. Turner explained that the task force suggests not only increasing these FPZ’s but also discouraging commercial cannabis cultivation by requiring a fully permitted greenhouse with concrete foundation in order to cultivate in such zones.
Another suggestion made by Turner was to require the property owners contact information in case of defaulted taxes, and also align with the Department of Cannabis Control policy of abandoned permits, cutting down their staffs backlog of waiting cannabis permits.
Many members of the public spoke in reaction to these recommendations, including Peter Simon, part owner of Pasta Farms in Kelseyville. He shared that if this passes, he will fall within the FPZ and therefore be denied his permit renewal. He added, “I believe the amount of taxes we paid were 25 percent of all cannabis taxes… and that is not something that will benefit the county going forward.”
To this District 5 Supervisor Jessica Pyska responded, “Let’s not go overboard if we don’t need to. Peter is here, he has a really successful wonderful project in my district and I don’t want to see that compromised.” Supervisor Pyska also asked Director Turner how we got to the topic of expanding the FPZ. Turner said, “My understanding was that we should look at cannabis policy, which I took to mean all cannabis policy so if that’s not the will of the board, I am more than happy to discuss something else going forward.”
Nara Dahlbacka, President of the Lake County Cannabis Alliance shared an eight-minute power point presentation noting all of the negative effects these proposed recommendations would have on the local cannabis industry. Jessica Pender, part owner and operator of Ghost Dance Ranch in Lower Lake also spoke, getting emotional as she explained a cultivator’s relationships with their land stating, “We are conservationists, if you talk to any grower we’re naturalists and our job is to be good stewards of the land…. putting in concrete is going to destroy the natural microbes that live below it.” There was no action taken by the board.
The current categories are for each category of the Cannabis Task Force include:
One tribal member, one Lake County Cannabis Alliance member, two community members one from North County and one from South County, one Farm Bureau member, one agricultural commissioner and one member from the cannabis industry.
The purpose of the task force according to county officials is to address Commercial Cannabis Permitting Activities and Enforcement.
Applications are available at the Lake County Courthouse, Clerk of the Board Office, Room 109, 255 North Forbes Street, Lakeport, California, or online at https://www.lakecountyca.gov/1116/Board-of-Supervisors.
In other actions, the board also heard two separate major use permit appeals. The first was Highland Farms, a project by Autumn Karcey and Artemis Co-Packing in the Highland Springs area. This project was appealed by local residents Tom Lajcik, Margaux Kambara and Associates. The project application was withdrawn by Karcey who said, “Unfortunately this project has become cannon fodder for the appellants hatred of cannabis.” Though the appellants were not satisfied asking for a full appeal and overturn of the planning commission be granted. The overturn was approved.
The second appeal was with Juan Novoa and Amy Hewitt-Novoa regarding their project Rancho Novoa, a campground and wedding event/venue space located on Blue Lakes. This matter was denied by the board noting “late night noise” that could be problematic to local resorts and residents. Hewitt-Novoa plead with the board sharing “This process is terrible and I hope no one else has to go through it.” She also shared that their project was one of only four in the past two years, and in that time many of the local business she frequented have shut their doors, reflecting a true need for their business. The board denied the appeal.
