LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A company aiming to start a large cannabis farming and processing operation in the High Valley area will have to wait nearly a month for the Board of Supervisors to hear an appeal of the project after it was rescheduled on Tuesday.
In July, the Lake County Planning Commission approved Sourz HVR Inc./Aviona LLC’s major use permit and adoption of initial study for a commercial cannabis cultivation license on the 1,640-acre High Valley Ranch, the former PSI World property, located at 11650 High Valley Road in Clearlake Oaks.
The project will include 80 acres of outdoor cannabis cultivation, five acres of nursery area, a distribution license to allow for transport of cannabis goods, the construction of 11 buildings for drying and storage totaling 111,000 square feet — including a refrigeration building — and the use of the existing 13,000 square foot conference center for packing, distribution and office space on a 649-acre portion of the ranch.
The commission concluded that the project had met the county’s requirements, and that the applicants had supplied additional study when asked — including more analysis of water usage.
Still, a number of the project’s neighbors have argued against it on a variety of grounds, from water usage to impact on quality of life and the environment.
Within a week of its approval, neighbors Don and Marge Van Pelt filed an appeal of the action, raising a wide range of issues that also include administrative notice deficiencies, impacts on cultural resources and biology, air quality, odor, traffic and more.
The appeal was scheduled to be heard during the board’s meeting at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.
However, Board Chair Bruno Sabatier said the appellants had asked for the matter to be rescheduled, noting they were awaiting a very large public records act request on the project to be fulfilled.
Supervisor EJ Crandell — in whose district the project is located — also was absent on Tuesday, and Sabatier felt it was important for Crandell to be present for the appeal hearing.
After discussion, the board proposed rescheduling the hearing either to next week or next month.
They concluded Oct. 26 was too soon, although County Counsel Anita Grant said she would put additional staff on the public record act request to get it out to the requester by end of business on Wednesday if they wanted to schedule it for next week.
Supervisor Moke Simon said he thought Nov. 2 was more reasonable.
County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson said another hearing and assessment appeals are on the Oct. 26 agenda, and as for Nov. 2, she was hopeful the board would be interviewing Health Services director candidates that day. The board doesn’t meet Nov. 9.
The Van Pelts’ attorney, Brad Johnson, submitted a request on Oct. 8 for the hearing to be rescheduled for Nov. 16, according to county documents.
“Appellant requests this continuance so that Appellant may properly prepare for the appeal hearing, and to allow time for the County to produce relevant documents requested by Appellant pursuant to the California Public Records Act,” Johnson wrote.
On Tuesday, Johnson — appearing via Zoom — said the Nov. 16 date works for them.
However, attorney George MacDonald of Katzoff and Riggs, speaking on behalf of Sourz HVR Inc., said his client wanted the hearing done and a determination made as soon as possible, and preferred the Oct. 26 date.
MacDonald said any relevant documents have been public since the last hearing and are on the county’s website, and he wasn’t aware of anything else that would come to light.
He said the public records act request was made on Oct. 8, and the appeal has been pending since July 28. “We’d like this to be heard as soon as possible.”
It’s very difficult to run a farm under early activation, MacDonald said, explaining the company is trying to start farming operations and it’s being hamstrung.
“This application is extensive and comprehensive,” with three water studies and a traffic study, said MacDonald. “We’re concerned that this is a delay tactic.”
MacDonald added, “Study upon study upon study has been done,” and asked for clarification on who asked for delay.
Sabatier said he didn’t disagree with wanting the matter handled as quickly as possible, acknowledging that it puts a business on hold. However, he said he wanted to give the process enough time and have Crandell present.
After further discussion of dates and times, the board voted 4-0 to reset the appeal hearing for 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16.
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Board of Supervisors reschedules High Valley Ranch cannabis appeal hearing
- Elizabeth Larson
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