Humboldt County Planning Commission approves five interrelated cannabis project permits in New Harris

The Humboldt County Planning Commission convened on April 3, 2025, to discuss several key agenda items, primarily focusing on five interrelated conditional use permits and one special permit for cannabis cultivation in the New Harris area. The meeting began with a brief procedural overview, followed by a motion that was unanimously approved by the commissioners.

Senior Planner Steven Santos presented the details of the five projects, emphasizing their interconnectedness through a shared irrigation system consisting of three rainwater catchment ponds. The projects are located in the southeastern corner of the county, with one parcel already having an approved permit for processing cannabis. The presentation included a visual aid to illustrate the geographic relationships between the projects.

Santos outlined the specifics of each project, noting that four of them were being processed under one conditional use permit category, while one project required a different category due to a request for converting an outdoor area to mixed light cultivation. This particular project also borders Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, prompting a review that raised concerns about the northern spotted owl habitat. However, the applicant provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the cultivation areas were adequately distanced from any potential habitat impact.

The commission discussed the need for consistency across the permits, leading to a recommendation to add a condition of approval for the four projects to ensure that processing could not occur on the adjacent parcel until existing conditions were satisfied. This was deemed necessary to maintain regulatory compliance and environmental standards.

No public comments were received regarding the projects, and the commission moved forward with a consolidated motion to approve all five permits, subject to the recommended conditions. The meeting concluded with a call for any further questions from the commissioners, indicating a smooth progression through the agenda items.

Overall, the meeting highlighted the commission's commitment to thorough review processes for cannabis cultivation projects while ensuring environmental protections are upheld. The next steps will involve formal adoption of the resolutions for the approved permits.