CANNABIS: How Close is Too Close? (SC Gazette)
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE SONOMA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Not many of us in this life have the power and opportunity to safeguard the well-being of thousands of our neighbors.
But, at this moment, you do.
I attended the Planning Commission meeting on June 28th during which changes were recommended to the Cannabis Ordinances Setback Regulations to improve Neighborhood Compatibility.
You now have a complex job on your hands. With respect, let me try to simplify it for you by asking you to keep one thing very clearly in mind:
The vast MAJORITY of residents in Sonoma County DO NOT WANT to live near a commercial cannabis operation.
Many of these residents have lived in the County their whole lives, some families for generations. Suddenly, their quality of life is being compromised by the hazards of commercial cannabis cultivation: significant loss of property value, crime, noise, glare, traffic, noxious odors, massive water use.
Many of these residents have resigned themselves to having a cannabis operation near their homes because of fear of confrontation and reprisal or because they feel powerless in the face of the massive amount of money and influence the cannabis industry brings to its lobbying efforts.
You can protect these residents – and honor the wishes of the majority of your constituents – by making two changes to the Cannabis Ordinances:
10 Acre Minimum Lot Size
1000 feet Setbacks
This would be simple. This would be fair. This would be Neighborhood Compatibility.
Many thanks for your attention,
Patrick Ball, Sebastopol