Memorandum
Date: April 21, 2026
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Mireya G. Turner, Community Development Director
Mary Claybon, Senior Planner
Subject: 11:00 A.M. - Consideration of Appeal (PL-26-12), Peter Luchetti, of Planning Commission's Approval of Major Use Permit (PL-25-13) for (UP 21-15), Rancho Lake, LLC; Location: 19955, 19986, 20110, and 22222 Grange Road, Middletown (APNs 014-290-08; 014-300-02, 03, & 04)
Executive Summary:
On January 8, 2026, the Lake County Planning Commission approved a Major Use Permit (PL-25-13) for (UP 21-15) and Initial Study (IS21-13) request for commercial cannabis cultivation of 19.6 acres of outdoor canopy and a Type 13 Distributor, Self Transport only, on a property located at 19955, 19986, 20110, and 22222 Grange Road, Middletown (APNs 014-290-08; 014-300-02, 03, & 04). The Planning Commission approved the project on a 3 to 1 vote, with Commissioner Brown absent. The Planning Commission Memorandum and associated documents are included as Exhibit A; and the meeting may be viewed online at: https://lakecounty.granicus.com/player/clip/816?view_id=1&redirect=true>
In accordance with County of Lake Zoning Code Section 58.31, the appellant filed an appeal (PL-26-12) of the Planning Commission's decision on January 8, 2026. The appeal application is included in Exhibit B. The appellant claims the project has substantive CEQA violations and inadequate environmental review, land use incompatibility, general welfare, and reservation of rights. An analysis of the appeal is provided in Section IV below.
There was no new information presented at the Planning Commission hearing or within the appeal application that identified inconsistencies between the project (as conditioned) and the County Code, or information resulting in Staff being unable to recommend the findings required for a Major Use Permit and adoption of the Initial Study. As such, Staff's original recommendation for approval of the pr...
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