Lake County planning panel forwards cannabis ordinance recommendations; odor mitigation, generators and homeschools highlighted

The Lake County Planning Commission concluded its review of recommended changes to the county’s cannabis ordinance and directed staff to incorporate the commission’s suggestions into a draft ordinance that will proceed through agency and stakeholder review, environmental analysis, the agricultural advisory committee and noticed public hearings before the planning commission and the Board of Supervisors.

Staff member, Community Development, summarized the next steps and told the commission: “Once the planning commission has completed their recommendations, I will integrate those recommendations into the staff report that then goes to the board.” The draft ordinance will then follow the county’s normal land-use review process, the staff member said.

The commission recorded several areas of consensus and items for further study. Among the recommendations the commission entered or noted: stronger language favoring anchoring systems over concrete slabs for outdoor facilities when anchor points are feasible; seeking additional options to mitigate odor impacts to nearby residences; directing staff to investigate increasing site reclamation bonds to a reasonable level for remediation; preparing a countywide map of approved and…