Second downtown dispensary denied after tie vote; staff to draft findings for denial

The Willows Planning Commission on Aug. 5 failed to approve a conditional use permit for WWCRS Inc. to operate a retail cannabis dispensary at 130 North Butte Street after a 2–2 split vote that the city attorney said constitutes a denial without further written findings.

Margaret Sharkey, the applicant, described downtown economic struggles and urged commissioners to consider clustering dispensaries downtown to increase foot traffic and aid local businesses. Sharkey said a downtown “green zone” could boost tourism and retail synergy and noted experience operating regulated cannabis businesses in other jurisdictions.

Public commenters renewed concerns expressed earlier in the meeting: Reverend Linda Robert and other residents urged caution about proximity to churches and schools and asked for measurable follow‑up from law enforcement or code enforcement to track community impacts. One resident asked whether advertising or street‑visible graphics might be triggering near behavioral‑health or outreach facilities; staff pointed to conditions that prohibit product visibility or cannabis graphics from the exterior and said future sign design would require planning review.

After discussion, a motion to approve the CUP was moved and seconded. The roll call was recorded this way: Commissioner Nygaard — No; Commissioner Ocampo — Yes; Vice Chair Quorum — Aye; Chair Bridal — No. The split 2–2 vote resulted in a denial under the commission’s rules and the city attorney advised staff to prepare formal findings to support the denial. Staff told commissioners they would prepare a written report with findings (consistent with Willows Municipal Code denial standards) and return the item for formal adoption of those findings, or other next steps as directed by the commission.

The motion’s tie vote and resulting denial do not foreclose the applicant from appeal or revision. Staff noted that because the city’s licensing process includes a multi‑phase review, the planning‑commission action is one step; the city council may later consider licensing matters subject to its own review authority. Commissioners and staff discussed that the municipal code sets a cap of two retail cannabis licenses for the city; the commission also struck the word “manufacturer” from a boilerplate condition to ensure the CUP language matched the retail nature of the proposed use.

Because the commission did not adopt written findings at the meeting, staff will draft denial findings tied to the municipal code provisions identified by the attorney and return the item for the commission’s formal action on a future agenda.