Lake County planning commission continues hearing on Little High Valley cannabis grow after neighbors raise access, grading and water concerns

The Lake County Planning Commission on Feb. 13 continued consideration of a major use permit (UP21-07) and its associated environmental review (IS21-07) for the Little High Valley commercial cannabis cultivation project after residents and county staff raised unresolved questions about road access, grading and potential impacts to nearby wells.

Staff said the proposal seeks approval for two Type 3 outdoor cultivation licenses covering two acres of canopy (87,120 square feet) within roughly a 90,620-square-foot cultivation area, plus a 3,500-square-foot processing building and a Type 13 self-distribution (transport-only) license at 17870 Little High Valley Road in Lower Lake. The parcel is about 78.38 acres. Staff noted the project would employ two permanent workers and up to eight seasonal workers during peak activities.

The commission’s staff presenter summarized the regulatory review and status: the proposal was evaluated under the Lake County General Plan, the Lower Lake Area Plan, the Lake County zoning ordinance (Article 27) and state regulations; staff recommended adopting a mitigated negative declaration with mitigation measures in the staff report. The staff report also described a county grading/stormwater inspection that found no enforceable violations after clearing was shown in…