Subject: Consideration of proposed Major Use Permit Amendment PL-25-243 (UP 24-20) East Side Farms, Inc./ Applicant, Ross Cunningham proposes a maximum of up to 50,560 square feet of outdoor commercial cannabis canopy and appurtenant facilities located at 23071, 23179, 23131, 23083, 23143, and 23119 Jerusalem Grade, Middletown (APNs 013-015-36, 013-015-38, 013-015-39, 013-015-40, 013-015-43, and 013-015-57).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Requested Action:
The Planning Commission will consider the approval of Major Use Permit amendment PL-25-243 and the associated Mitigated Negative Declaration to expand an existing commercial cannabis cultivation operation located at 23071, 23179, 23131, 23083, 23143, and 23119 Jerusalem Grade, Middletown (APNs 013-015-36, 013-015-38, 013-015-39, 013-015-40, 013-015-43, and 013-015-57).
Project Overview:
East Side Farms, Inc. proposes to expand an existing commercial cannabis cultivation operation on the Project Parcels located at 23071, 23179, 23131, 23083, 23143, and 23119 Jerusalem Grade, Middletown (APNs 013-015-36, 013-015-38, 013-015-39, 013-015-40, 013-015-43, and 013-015-57). The applicant currently operates an A-Type 3 "Medium Outdoor" Cultivation under Major Use Permit (UP 19-43). The proposed expansion would utilize the parcels: 013-015-36, 013-015-38, 013-015-39, 013-015-40, 013-015-43, and 013-015-57 (totaling 35 acres). Adding three A-Type 1C License Types to the existing A-Type 3, with a total combined aggregate cannabis canopy of 50,560 square feet within outdoor cultivation area totaling 119,146 square feet. Appurtenant facilities for cultivation uses are a total of 8,320 square feet combined.
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends the Planning Commission:
A. I move that the Planning Commission find that potential impacts associated with the Major Use Permit amendment applied for by East Side Farms Inc./ Ross Cunningham can be mitigated to less than significant through the implementation of the Mitigated Negative Declaration for the property located at 23071, 23179, 23131, 23083, 23143, and 23119 Jerusalem Grade, Middletown (APNs 013-015-36, 013-015-38, 013-015-39, 013-015-40, 013-015-43, and 013-015-57) will not have a significant effect on the environment, and that the Planning Commission adopt Initial Study PL-25-243 with the findings listed in the Staff Report dated July 09, 2026.
B. I move that the Planning Commission find that the Major Use Permit PL-25-243 applied for by East Side Farms Inc./ Ross Cunningham for the property located at 23071, 23179, 23131, 23083, 23143, and 23119 Jerusalem Grade, Middletown (APNs 013-015-36, 013-015-38, 013-015-39, 013-015-40, 013-015-43, and 013-015-57) does meet the requirements of the Lake County Zoning Ordinance Article 27 and Article 51.4 and that the Major Use Permit be granted based on the findings listed in the Staff Report and subject to Conditions of Approval dated July 09, 2026.