Council approves transfer and relocation of a commercial cannabis permit despite neighborhood objections

San Bernardino — The City Council voted on June 17 to approve a staff‑recommended amendment to a commercial cannabis business permit, allowing an issued but non‑operational retail permit to move from 225 E. Airport Drive to 1602 W. Highland Ave. and to transfer ownership to OG Ventures.

The application drew strong neighborhood opposition. Several residents, including community leaders near the proposed site in the west side/Seventh Ward, urged the council to deny the relocation because of the proximity to churches, a hospital campus, senior housing and new housing projects. One public commenter told the council: “We do not need another pot shop on the west side… the churches don’t want it.”

Staff analysis and legal framework

Staff noted the proposed site sits in commercially zoned property and is not within the city’s regulatory 600‑foot buffer from residentially zoned parcels (municipal cannabis buffer rules apply to parcels that are residentially zoned, not all parcels that contain housing). The staff report also reminded council the zoning ordinance requires council consideration of proximity to religious facilities and libraries, though churches are not an absolute exclusion under the code.

OG Ventures’ representative said the operator is already a compliant, city‑based licensee (Higher Ground on Redlands Blvd.) and argued the new location would turn a vacant property into an operating, tax‑paying business with 24‑hour security and improved landscaping and lighting.

Council actions and votes

The item produced multiple procedural motions and extensive debate. After several substitute motions and a final recorded vote, council approved the staff recommendation to permit the transfer and relocation (final tally recorded as 4–3). Supporters emphasized private property and regulatory compliance; opponents said the site was inappropriate and urged staff to identify alternative compliant locations.

Follow‑up and implementation

Staff advised that the approved transfer will be subject to permit conditions (security, surveillance, and operational compliance) and that any tenant improvements must meet building, safety and zoning requirements. Council members asked staff to continue enforcement efforts against illegal operators and suggested more proactive outreach to identify suitable commercial corridors for cannabis retail if the city wishes to limit neighborhood exposures.

Why it mattered

The decision highlights the tension between city zoning language (which ties buffer rules to residential zoning rather than actual sensitive uses) and neighborhood expectations about where cannabis retail should be allowed. Residents asked for a systematic approach to parcel selection and more visible enforcement of illegal stores in neighborhoods.