Trinity County planning commission recommends changing cannabis opposition process to allow hearings

The Trinity County Planning Commission on March 13 voted 4-0 to recommend that the Board of Supervisors adopt a minor text amendment to Trinity County Code 17.43.051, subsection A5, to change how opposition to administrative buffer reduction (ABR) director's use permit applications is handled.

Drew Pilbani, Trinity County cannabis division director, told the commission the change would “modify the opposition process to allow for scheduling of a Planning Commission hearing instead of the automatic denial of the administrative buffer reduction director's use permit application,” and would replace the term “community development director” with “planning director” in the code text.

The amendment was presented as a technical fix to a problem identified in prior meetings. Public commenters at the hearing, including residents who said they represent neighborhood interests, spoke in favor of the change. One resident said the amendment “is a fix for a problem” and urged approval.

Commission discussion focused on related equity questions raised at earlier meetings. Commissioner Carol Fall asked that staff return with suggested language to protect long-standing landowners from losing existing rights when parcels change hands, and requested staff present suggested changes at a future meeting to address “seniority” concerns so established landowners would not be penalized. Pilbani described the conversion process from prior commercial cannabis variances (CCVs) to ABRs and said the county expects the conversion to be a one-time process; he estimated the number of permittees still needing to convert was “roughly 30” (an approximate figure provided by staff).

After discussion, Commissioner Fall moved to approve the staff recommendation; the motion was seconded and passed by roll call vote 4-0. Chair Barrett announced the vote: “4-0 to approve the changes to the minor text amendment changes to Title 17.48.051” (staff and the record identify the amendment as to Trinity County Code 17.43.051). The Planning Commission will forward the recommendation to the Board of Supervisors for consideration.

The commission directed staff to return with language addressing seniority and conversion issues at a future meeting; Pilbani said the cannabis division intends to include water- and well-related regulatory clarifications in future cannabis ordinance updates rather than in the general plan.

The amendment and the staff report were made available as part of the meeting packet; staff noted an updated memo was posted online the day of the meeting with comments received after the staff report was published.