Greenfield staff reports $2.3 million in cannabis tax revenue; project updates, stalled applications and housing element passback noted

Planning staff told the Greenfield City Planning Commission on Feb. 4 that the city is on track to collect about $2,300,000 in cannabis tax revenue this fiscal year, and provided a high‑level update on active and completed development projects.

Why it matters: cannabis tax receipts, permit activity and the housing element timeline affect city revenue, planning priorities and the timing of a general plan update tied to RHNA certification.

Highlights from the staff report and commissioners’ questions:

- Revenue and permits: Staff noted 616 business licenses issued in the current fiscal year and reported that cannabis tax receipts are projected at approximately $2,300,000. Staff also summarized building permit counts, inspections and permit valuation trends.

- Impact fee report: Staff said the city is behind on a required impact‑fee report (referred to in the packet as a B16 information report) and is working to complete it because recent case law has tightened standards for use of impact fees.

- Housing element and RHNA: The report documents the housing element review process with HCD; staff and commissioners corrected an error in the packet and said the housing element is on its third official pass back from HCD. Staff said the city cannot begin a full general plan update until the housing element is certified.

- Completed and near‑complete projects: Staff said the mixed business center that includes Jamba Juice and Pizza Hut received final certificates of occupancy and will be moved to the completed‑projects list. The Avila farmworker housing buildings are complete; site work on remaining acreage may continue.

- Projects awaiting utilities or fees: The visitor center (referred to as the chicken place near the extra mile) remains closed pending PG&E hook‑up and is still running on a generator, staff said. One mixed‑use project will not be processed because the applicant has not paid required fees (the staff report lists an unpaid amount of $12,812; a commissioner also read a larger figure during the meeting). Staff said the city has provided detailed invoicing and that a dispute over fees is a public record issue delaying processing. Separately, staff said the California Gourmet Pizza project is ready for issuance of a building permit once the applicant pays the required building permit fee.

- Inspections and building official: The city’s inspection work is provided by the firm BPLR; staff said there is currently one contract inspector assigned to Greenfield and that typical daily inspection counts range roughly from seven to 13 per day when the inspector is in town.

- Maps, tax sale and property: Staff said tentative subdivision maps generally have a two‑year life. The report also described a parcel acquisition tied to a tax sale (noted in the packet as the Zeeb tax sale) in which the city paid a tax debt to take possession of a road parcel formerly held by a prior developer.

- Sidewalks/CDBG: Staff said work has begun on a CDBG‑funded sidewalk project with a construction window noted in the packet (January 21 through May 1).

Administrative items and next steps:

- Consent agenda: The commission approved the Jan. 7, 2025 meeting minutes on the consent agenda with a motion and a second; the chair called for unanimous approval.

- Training and meetings: Staff reminded commissioners of upcoming Brown Act training for commissioners and City Council and that business cards have been ordered for commissioners. The commission’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 3.

Staff said the major projects report is intended as a high‑level summary and invited commissioners to note any errors or omissions for correction in future editions.