1. Overview of the Draft EIR
County of Santa Cruz
Commercial Cannabis Cultivation and Manufacturing Regulations and Licensing Program:
Overview of the Draft EIR
September 12, 2017

2. Purpose of Session
Describe the structure and findings of the Draft EIR to facilitate review

3. Background
September 2015
California establishes regulatory system for medical cannabis cultivation (MMRSA)
2015
County adopts SCCC Chapter 7.128, establishing an interim licensing program
2016
County prepares the proposed permanent licensing program (the subject of the EIR)
Proposition 64 legalizes cannabis for adult use (AUMA)
Future
Replace SCCC Chapter with permanent program, pursuant to MAUCRSA

4. Overview OF THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS AND LICENSING PROGRAM
Criteria for licensing commercial cannabis cultivation and manufacturing
Eligible zoning districts in unincorporated areas
Address the type, location, size, intensity, and design of cannabis sites.
Regulation for site development, consistent with the Santa Cruz County Code (SCCC)
Does not include personal use
Here? Or later slide?
Mention that the proposed regulations as they currently stand are in appendix c, however these are expected to change through the review and hearing process

5. Cannabis Cultivation Only sites zoned:
Residential Agriculture (RA),
Special Use (SU),
Timber Production (TP),
Agriculture (A),
Commercial Agriculture (CA),
Service Commercial (C-4), and
Industrial (M-1, M-2, M-3)
Development standards further restrict eligibility
Two Program scenarios compared in EIR:
Project
More Permissive Project
Describe that the two scenarios of the program were analyzed, in order to do an in depth look at two versions of the regulations . We call these the project and the more permissive project, to indicate that the second scenario would allow more cultivation to occur. Separate from that,, CEQA requires that alternatives to the program be evaluated, and those are a different thing. Alts are discussed later

6. Project Scenario

7. More Permissive Project Scenario

8. Cannabis Manufacturing
Only sites zoned:
Residential Agriculture (RA),
Special Use (SU),
Timber Production (TP),
Agriculture (A),
Commercial Agriculture (CA),
Service Commercial (C-4),
Industrial (M-1, M-2, M-3), and
Community Commercial (in C-2 only in conjunction with a dispensary)
Subject to standards limiting the type of manufacturing and size of the operation
Ancillary to cultivation on agricultural and timber zones
Allowed in detached single family homes in residential zonings, subject to limitations and with a cannabis home occupation permit

9. What is an EIR? An informational document
Discloses information about the effects a proposed project could have on the environment
Identifies mitigation measures
Describes feasible alternatives to the proposed project
Must be certified by the Board of Supervisors prior to project approval

10. What is an EIR? An EIR does not approve or deny a project
Decision makers can deny or modify a project, even if no impacts are found
Where significant environmental impacts are identified in an EIR, mitigation measures must be considered to avoid or reduce impacts
Where significant impacts are identified and feasible mitigation measures are not available

11. The eIR process = Current phase February Notice of Preparation
Scoping Meeting
August
Environmental Impact Analysis
Public Draft EIR
October
45-Day Public Comment Period
Public Hearing
November
Respond to Comments
Final EIR
December
Certify EIR
Program Adoption Hearings
= Current phase

12. EIR Scope
The EIR considers the potential physical impacts of the following actions:
Adoption of the Program, including:
Amendments to the SCCC
Amendments to the General Plan/Local Coastal Program
Licensing of commercial cannabis cultivation and manufacturing activities

13. Environmental Baseline
Existing setting at NOP (Feb 2017)
Includes existing cannabis activities
Number, types, locations, settings
Characterized based on:
2016 County License Registration Data
2017 County Cannabis Manufacturers Survey
Interviews with cannabis industry representatives, Sheriff’s Office, Code Enforcement, local industry surveys, etc.
EIR analyzes changes from baseline

14. Summary of TYPES OF Environmental Impacts
The Draft EIR classifies impact significance:
Significant and Unavoidable
Less than Significant with Mitigation
Less than Significant
No Impact
Beneficial Impact
Addresses Direct, Indirect, Secondary, and Cumulative Impacts

15. Summary of Program’s POTENTIAL Environmental Impacts
Aesthetics and Visual Resources
Public views, character, vegetation, and light/glare
Agricultural and Timber Resources
Conversion, use compatibility
Air Quality
Odor, emissions, vehicle trips, planning consistency
Biological Resources
Wildlife, sensitive species/habitat, natural communities, rodenticides

16. Summary of Program’s POTENTIAL Environmental Impacts
Cultural Resources
Undocumented historic resources, archaeological and paleontological resources
Geology and Soil
Grading/terracing, soil stability, seismicity
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Mobile and operational GHGs, consistency with GHG policy
Hazards and Hazardous Materials
Transport/storage of hazmat, pesticides/herbicides/rodenticide, fires/explosions

17. Summary of Program’s POTENTIAL Environmental Impacts
Hydrology and Water Quality
Contamination, sedimentation, groundwater overdraft Land Use and Planning
Consistency with plans and policies
Public Services
Law enforcement, fire protection, public parks, and schools
Population, Employment and Housing
Growth inducement, employment, housing demand

18. Summary of Program’s POTENTIAL Environmental Impacts
Transportation and Circulation
Traffic, roadway operations, safety and access
Utilities and Energy Conservation
Water, wastewater, solid waste, and energy infrastructure
Other CEQA – Not Significant
Noise
Minerals

19. Highlighted findings: PROPOSED Mitigation Measures
Protecting Biotic Resources
Protecting Water Resources
Avoiding Excessive Disturbance
Minimizing Energy Use/GHGs
Transportation

20. Less than Significant No Mitigation Required Mitigation Required
Hazards and Hazardous Materials
Public Services
Aesthetics and Visual Resources
Agricultural and Timber Resources
Biological Resources
Cultural Resources
Geology and Soils
Greenhouse Gases
Hydrology and Water Quality
Land Use and Planning
Population, Employment, and Housing
Utilities and Energy Conservation

21. Significant Unavoidable Impacts
Air Quality
Transportation and Circulation
Secondary impacts from unregulated cannabis activities are significant and unavoidable for all resources except Aesthetics/Visual Resources

22. Alternatives No Project (Existing Regulations)
Alternative 1 – Most Restrictive Project
Alternative 2 – Most Permissive Project
The Draft EIR concludes Alternative 2 is the Environmentally Superior Alternative

23. THE EIR EVALUATED THE FOLLOWING PROJECT AND ALTERNATIVES:
Most Restrictive Project Alternative
More Permissive Project
Most Permissive Project Alternative
No Project Alternative
Restrictive
Permissive

24. Public comments
Before October 16, 5:00 PM, receive public comments on:
Adequacy of the Draft EIR
Alternatives evaluated in the Draft EIR
Comments should focus on the environmental impacts of the proposed Program

25. Submit Comments by 5:00 p.m. on October 16, 2017 by:
Completing a comment card
Mail a letter:
Matt Johnston
County of Santa Cruz |Planning Department
701 Ocean Street, 4th Floor
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

26. Next steps (Tentative Expected dates)
Draft EIR 45-Day Public Comment Period
August 31 – October 16
Public Meeting to collect comments on Draft EIR
October 2 from 6 - 8PM
Board of Supervisors Chambers, 5th Floor
701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz
Publish Final EIR with Response to Comments
November 2017
Public Hearings, Certification of the Final EIR, Action on the Project
December 2017 and January 2018

27. Thank you for attending!
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