Planning commission revokes Schaffer Manufacturing’s cannabis use permit after repeated security and odor violations

The Dixon City Planning Commission voted unanimously to revoke the conditional use permit that allowed Schaffer Manufacturing to operate a cannabis cultivation, manufacturing and distribution microbusiness at 325 West F Street.

Community Development Director Raffy Boyle told the commission the city documented repeated noncompliance across multiple audits and inspections. "There was 1 in October '23... in June '24... and on January 31 there was another security inspection," Boyle said, summarizing the inspection history and telling commissioners staff and the police department recommended revocation. Boyle said the development agreement associated with the operation expired in February 2022 and was not renewed.

Investigation Sergeant Lex Egbert of the Dixon Police Department outlined the inspections in more detail. He told the commission that the 10/19/2023 audit found missing signage, inadequate surveillance, insufficient exterior lighting, improperly placed panic triggers and the absence of required security officers. "On 01/31/2025, there was another physical premise audit," Egbert said, and that audit again found odor, missing uniform security and surveillance and alarm deficiencies as well as untagged immature plants, which he said is a Department of Cannabis Control violation.

Owner Ronnie Schaffer and operator Nicholas Brewington disputed some findings and described improvements they said they have made. Schaffer told commissioners the business invested heavily in the facility and equipment and argued many items had been corrected; "We spent $1,500,000 to build these rooms," he said. Brewington said the operator had made multiple security upgrades and invited staff to re-inspect: "We are in compliance. Come by anytime," he said.

Commissioners focused on a CUP condition requiring a uniformed security officer during business hours. Staff pointed to condition number 6 in the use permit, which requires a licensed uniform security guard on duty 30 minutes before the first scheduled employee and until the last employee leaves. Commissioners noted that the condition had not been met and that repeated inspections showed ongoing issues.

Police Chief Thompson, speaking on Zoom, described the department’s enforcement posture. "This is a measure of last resort where we feel we've simply been unable to accomplish what the approvals ... intended to do," he said, explaining that staff had made repeated good-faith efforts to secure compliance before bringing the matter to the commission.

After public comment (one speaker said he was under a letter of intent to buy the business and would bring it into compliance if the license remained in place), Commissioner Davis moved to adopt a resolution revoking CUP PA 18-18; the motion passed 6-0. Boyle announced that the commission’s decision is final unless appealed to the city council within 10 calendar days; the appeal period was set to end Friday, April 18 at 5 p.m.

The revocation directs code enforcement to establish a timeline to cease operations and vacate the site. The commission’s findings cited repeated failure to comply with conditions of approval and applicable regulations as the basis for revocation.