Riverside narrows storefront cannabis locations, council approves ordinance 4-1 amid legal challenges

Riverside City Council on July 15 approved changes to the city's retail cannabis rules that narrow where storefront dispensaries can open and pause a broader rollout of permits approved under earlier code language.

The ordinance, introduced after a staff presentation and planning commission review, restricts storefront commercial cannabis businesses from downtown and midtown, adds new distance and concentration rules to avoid clusters, and implements a phased approach that allows one storefront permit per ward in an initial cohort of seven. Councilmember Mill, who moved to approve the changes, framed the measure as a compromise to distribute dispensaries across the city while tracking compliance.

City staff said the amendments are intended to ensure dispensaries "fit well with existing businesses, protect sensitive receptors and avoid over-concentration," and to align local zoning with the city's public-safety and land-use concerns. Kyle Worsinski, senior project manager in Economic Development, told council that the planning commission recommended the ordinance with a modification increasing buffer distances and prohibiting locations in defined downtown and midtown boundaries.

Litigation counsel for several applicants told the council during a telephonic public comment that two lawsuits were filed June 30 challenging prior council actions and the temporary suspension of permit processing. Diana Cisneros, who identified herself as litigation counsel for an applicant group, said the legal action is pending in Riverside County Superior Court and urged the council to continue the item to consider those filings and public comment. Council proceeded with debate and a roll-call vote.

Council voted 4-1 to approve the ordinance, with one council member dissenting. Councilmember Cervantes asked staff to confirm that an approved site near Sycamore Canyon Park exceeded the proposed 1,000-foot buffer; staff confirmed the distance was over 1,000 feet. Worsinski said staff will return in August with implementation steps including updated permitting guidelines and selection of preferred site locations. The ordinance would take effect in September if the council adopts a second reading at its Aug. 5 meeting.

The council directed staff to exempt non-retail commercial cannabis uses (manufacturing, distribution, testing labs) from the new location restrictions, noting such uses remain subject to the state's minimum distance rules from schools and youth centers.

Next steps: staff will present revised permitting guidelines and related fees for retail storefronts and testing laboratories in August; the city will also begin a phased permitting process on Sept. 5 if the second reading is adopted.

Votes and procedure: The motion to approve staff recommendations passed by roll call (four yes, one no). Several speakers and counsel noted pending litigation; the council did not continue the item.