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Dunsmuir council advances zoning change to allow cannabis lounges inside dispensaries
Summary
The council introduced and waived the first reading of Ordinance 583 to amend zoning rules allowing commercial cannabis lounges as accessories to licensed dispensaries; staff said lounges would be limited in size, require separation from sales areas and be reviewed through conditional use permits.
Mayor Lucchese announced the first reading of Ordinance 583, a zoning-code amendment to permit cannabis consumption lounges as an accessory use within licensed dispensaries. Planner Gary Price said the rules would allow lounges in specific commercial and mixed‑use zones, limit lounge size to no more than 1,500 square feet or 50% of the dispensary footprint, require separation between the retail and consumption areas, and impose sign, management-plan and operator/conduct restrictions.
Gary Price told the council the planning commission had held an open public hearing and recommended approval; he also said the zoning amendment is exempt from environmental review under state CEQA section 15061. After brief clarifying questions about HVAC and fire review, Council member Clarno moved to introduce and waive the first reading of Ordinance 583; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote, and the council set the second reading and adoption for 05/21/2026. No members of the public offered testimony on the zoning map portion of the proposal.
The ordinance as presented ties lounge approvals to a conditional use permit process, meaning each operator must apply, satisfy building, fire and performance standards, and submit management plans as required by staff. Planner Gary Price emphasized that the regulations are designed to keep lounges accessory to existing dispensaries and to provide local oversight of ventilation and safety.
