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Hayward council approves Fino’s (Phenos) dispensary CUP after heated hearing, 5–2
Summary
After a lengthy hearing with more than 100 public speakers, the Hayward City Council approved a conditional use permit for Finos (Phenos) to operate a cannabis dispensary at 21463 Foothill Blvd.; vote passed 5–2 amid neighbor concerns about clustering, traffic and proximity to a martial-arts studio.
The Hayward City Council voted 5–2 on Dec. 16 to approve a conditional use permit (CUP UP‑25‑0011) allowing Finos Hayward (operated by Esther Lopez with partner Engelbert/Bert Sarkis) to open a cannabis retail dispensary in roughly a 14,928‑square‑foot tenant space at 21463 Foothill Boulevard.
Staff presentation and council questioning: Senior Planner Steve Kowalski and planning manager Jeremy Lekirco laid out the city’s regulatory history (a 2017 ordinance that capped dispensaries and a later 2020 update that adjusted zoning) and explained that the applicants hold one of the city’s limited business permits and needed a new CUP for this location. Staff recommended approval, saying the application met the municipal code’s requirements and proposing conditions…
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