Title
HEARING - Consider recommendations regarding options for Cannabis Regulatory Amendments and Authorization of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Compliance for State Provisional Annual Licenses, as follows: (EST. TIME: 1 HR. 30 MIN.)
a) Review areas for potential amendment to the County’s current cannabis permitting and licensing regulations, as previously requested by the Board;
b) Provide conceptual direction on possible amendments to Chapter 35, Section 35-1 [Land Use and Development Code (LUDC)], Article II [Coastal Zoning Ordinance (Article II)], and the Santa Barbara County Uniform Rules for Agricultural Preserves and Farmland Security Zones, as well as Chapter 50 (Licensing of Commercial Cannabis Operations), of the County Code, to improve the effectiveness of the cannabis regulatory system;
c) Authorize the County Executive Office to notify State Cannabis Licensing Authorities that compliance with CEQA is underway for applications for provisional licenses pursuant to California Business and Professions Code Section 26050.2, if:
i) The applicant holds an active State temporary cannabis license for the same site and cannabis activity which are the subject of the State Provisional Annual cannabis license application; and
ii) The applicant for a State annual cannabis license has engaged in the land use permitting process set forth in the LUDC or Article II (as applicable) by having: (a) a permit application accepted for processing by Planning and Development and paid the requisite permit processing fees; or (b) received the requisite cannabis permit and applied for, but not yet obtained, the corresponding Business License; and
d) Determine, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines 15378(b)(5), that the above actions are not a project subject to CEQA review because they are administrative activities that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S RECOMMENDATION: POLICY