Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Steve Monowitz, Community Development Director
Subject: Ordinance amending Chapter 5.148 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code regarding commercial cannabis cultivation in the unincorporated area of San Mateo County.
County File Number: PLN2022-00066
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 5.148 of the County Ordinance Code regarding commercial cannabis cultivation in the unincorporated area of San Mateo County, previously introduced on July 12, 2022 and waive the reading of the ordinance in its entirety.
bod
BACKGROUND:
Chapter 5.148 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code provides regulations for commercial cannabis activities and imposes a license requirement for the cultivation of commercial cannabis in the unincorporated area of San Mateo County. Planning and Building Department staff, in consultation with the ad hoc cannabis committee comprised of Supervisor Horsley and Supervisor Groom, drafted the amendments based on a comprehensive review of the regulatory effectiveness of the program over the past 5 years and consideration of concerns raised by existing license holders operating in the unincorporated County.
Location: Cannabis licenses may only be issued on (1) lands designated as "Agriculture" on the San Mateo County General Plan Land Use Map, and (2) other lands where commercial agricultural use has been conducted for the three years preceding the effective date of the ordinance. These lands are distributed throughout the Coastal Zone of unincorporated San Mateo County.
Existing Zoning: Primarily PAD (Planned Agriculture District). However, there are a few parcels with the "Agriculture" land use designation that also are zoned RM-CZ (Resource Management - Coastal Zone). Commercial cultivation operations could also occur on other rurally zoned lands that allow agriculture by right, if the applicant can ...
Click here for full text