Memorandum
STAFF REPORT
TO: Planning Commission
FROM: Mary Darby, Community Development Director
Prepared by: Eric Porter, Associate Planner
DATE: October 28, 2021
RE: Sunny S Ranch; Modification (MMU 21-20) to a Use Permit (UP 18-43) for Commercial Cannabis Cultivation and Categorical Exemption to CEQA (CE 21-32).
Supervisor District 1
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Vicinity Map
2. Original Conditions of Approval
3. Modification Conditions of Approval
4. Agency Comments
5. Revised Site Plan
I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On June 27, 2019, the Planning Commission approved Use Permit UP 18-43 on the subject site. The application was for 25,996 sq. ft. of 'mixed light' (greenhouse) cultivation area, and 21,996 sq. ft. of canopy area. The 20-acre site is allowed to have up to 22,000 sq. ft. of mature plant canopy area.
On June 7, 2021, the County received an application for a modification to the cultivation area to enable the applicant to place four (4) 1,960 sq. ft. areas on the site for use as a nursery for immature plants (Attachment 5). The addition of the nursery areas will not increase the measurable canopy area, but it will impact the rate of annual taxation, as nursery area is regarded as 'cultivation area', which is taxable.
The 20 acre subject site takes access from Butts Canyon Road, a paved, County-maintained road in this location. The road is relatively flat at this location, and there is good visibility entering and leaving the site.
The original application, file no. UP 18-43, included a Biological Resources Report and a Cultural Site Assessment Survey, both of which included the 'expansion area' proposed for the new nurseries.
Staff is recommending Approval with Conditions of MMU 21-20.
General Plan Conformance
The General Plan designation for the subject site is Rural Lands. The following General Plan policies relate to site development in the context of this proposal:
Rural Lands allows for rural development in areas that are primarily in...
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