Commission approves Green Mart cannabis storefront at 1912 Harbor Boulevard with bike‑rack accessibility condition

The Costa Mesa Planning Commission on Feb. 24 approved a conditional use permit for Green Mart, a proposed retail cannabis storefront at 1912 Harbor Boulevard, subject to standard cannabis storefront operating conditions and a commission amendment ensuring the bike rack is publicly accessible and not blocked by parked vehicles.

Senior planner Michelle Halligan summarized the application and staff’s recommendation, saying the applicant provided a business plan and a professionally prepared security plan that the city’s cannabis consultant reviewed. “The applicant also provided a professionally prepared security plan that was evaluated by our cannabis consultant. They determined that appropriate security measures were included to address both local and state requirements,” Halligan said. Staff described site improvements including restriping, landscape planters, a reconstructed drive approach, fencing, and surveillance of loading/unloading areas.

Applicant Keith Sheinberg said Green Mart would operate as an in‑and‑out retail model with a staffed security presence and a delivery program; he described outreach to neighboring businesses and said he planned to hire locally. Opponents from the adjacent center managed by Flynn West expressed concerns about a history of an illegal dispensary in a neighboring property and about parking, loitering, odor and public safety. Flynn West’s leasing director, Jill Welton, told the commission the property manager “spent in excess of $300,000 in repairs, legal fees, loss of rent and the loss of tenants” after an illegal operation occupied an adjacent unit.

Land‑use counsel for Flynn West urged the commission to add conditions requiring proactive mitigation and suggested an annual review or an automatic revocation trigger after multiple verified complaints. Planner Halligan said the city tracks complaints related to cannabis sites and applies conditions of approval used across other storefronts, including parking and delivery rules, odor control, and security guard requirements.

Commissioner Martinez moved to approve the project and to amend building condition number 5 to ensure the bike rack is publicly accessible and not blocked by parked vehicles; Commissioner Klipak seconded. The motion passed with three commissioners voting yes and two voting no; Chair Harlan recused himself from the item. The resolution includes standard cannabis conditions (age limits, no on‑site consumption, renewal of a cannabis business permit every two years) and site‑specific requirements for parking‑lot monitoring, signage and surveillance during loading and unloading.

Staff noted Costa Mesa has previously approved 26 retail cannabis CUPs, 12 of which were open at the time of the meeting; Halligan said the current ordinance and conditions limit what the city can require for parking, and state law precludes the city from imposing minimum parking standards for cannabis storefronts. The commission’s action is final unless appealed to City Council within seven days.