Planning commission unanimously denies reduced‑setback permit for Chavoia cannabis operation

The Mendocino County Planning Commission on Aug. 7 adopted a resolution denying an administrative permit (APU2024‑0011) requested by Marco Chavoia for reduced setbacks to allow a 5,000‑square‑foot mixed‑light cannabis cultivation operation with six greenhouses.

Staff materials and the resolution before the commission described the applicant’s request to reduce the standard 100‑foot setback from property lines to 92 feet on the northern boundary and 61 feet on the southern boundary. The county code allows setback reductions for commercial cannabis cultivation through an administrative permit; the project planner noted the standard 200‑foot setback from cultivation to occupied residential structures would still be maintained.

Rob Simmons, the project planner, summarized that agricultural cultivation and construction of greenhouses are generally allowed in the zoning district but that the specific setback reduction requires findings under the county’s cannabis regulations. Simmons told…