271538.1
ORDINANCE NO. XXX-2022
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF BARSTOW APPROVING A CANNABIS LICENSE APPLICATION FOR GROW ORGANIC 9, INC. AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH GROW ORGANIC 9, INC. FOR COMMERCIAL CANNABIS CULTIVATION LOCATED AT 2805 LENWOOD ROAD BUILDING 9 BARSTOW, CA 92311 WHEREAS, California voters approved Proposition 215 (Health and Safety Code Section 11362.5), entitled the Compassionate Use Act (CUA), in 1996, which exempts patients and their primary caregivers from criminal prosecution or sanctions under H&S Code Sections 11357 and 11358 for qualified use and cultivation of medical cannabis; and WHEREAS, the California Legislature passed Senate Bill 420 (H&S Code Sections 11362.7 et seq.) in 2003 to create the Medical Marijuana Program (MMPA), which established a voluntary program for the issuance of medical cannabis identification cards for qualified patients, set limits on the amount of cannabis any individual could possess, and provided an exemption from state criminal liability for persons "who associate within the State of California in order collectively or cooperatively to cultivate marijuana for medical purposes"; and
WHEREAS, in November 2016, California voters approved Proposition 64, the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act ("AUMA"), which established a state licensing and regulatory system for commercial cultivation, possession, manufacture, distribution, processing, storing, laboratory testing, labeling, transportation, delivery, or sale of recreational marijuana and marijuana products; and
WHEREAS, on June 27, 2017, the Governor signed the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act ("MAUCRSA"), consolidating the AUMA with previous state law regarding commercial medical marijuana activities to create one state licensing system for commercial activities related to medical and recreational marijuana; and WHEREAS, both the AUMA and MAUCRSA authorize the City to further regulate or completely prohibit the establishment or operation of commercial marijuana activities within its limits, even such activities that may be licensed under state law; and WHEREAS, the City's power to regulate or completely prohibit commercial marijuana activities under the AUMA and MAUCRSA is consistent with the California Supreme Court's decision in City of Riverside v. Inland Empire Patients Health and Wellness Center, Inc. (2013) 56 Cal.4th 7; and
WHEREAS, the California Attorney General's August 2008 Guidelines for the Security and Non-Diversion of Marijuana Grown for Medical Use recognizes that the cultivation or other concentration of marijuana in any location or premises without adequate security increases the risk that nearby homes or businesses may be negatively impacted by nuisance activity such as loitering or crime; and 2 271538.1
WHEREAS, the California Planning and Zoning Law (Gov. Code, § 65000 et seq.) authorizes the City to adopt and administer zoning laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations; and
WHEREAS, the City of Barstow passed Ordinance No. 974-2021 on June 7th 2021 to begin the process of allowing Cannabis sales; and WHEREAS, the City of Barstow passed Ordinance No. 977-2021 on October 4th 2021, adopting land use laws for Cannabis sales and requiring applicants to execute a development agreement with the City before beginning operation; and WHEREAS, no cannabis business may operate in the City of Barstow unless first issued a permit by the City; and
WHEREAS, to strengthen the public planning process, encourage private participation in comprehensive planning, and reduce the economic risk of development, the California Legislature adopted Government Code section 65864 et seq. (the “Development Agreement Statute”), which authorizes the City and an individual with an interest in real property to enter into a development agreement that establishes certain development rights in real property that is subject to a development agreement application; and
WHEREAS, the proposed project is consistent with the Barstow General Plan and the California Environmental Quality Act; and
WHEREAS, Grow Organic 9, Inc. proposes to improve, develop and use real property to operate Commercial Cannabis Cultivation located at 2805 Lenwood Road Building 9, Barstow, CA 92311 (APN #0428-211-26) and has properly submitted a completed cannabis license application; and
WHEREAS, City and the Grow Organic 9, Inc. seek to enter into a development agreement for the Project (the “Development Agreement”) pursuant to the Development Agreement Statute and all applicable local and state laws; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission approved Resolution No. 563-2022 finding that an ordinance approving the Development Agreement will allow the City to adequately regulate and address all impacts of the Project in the City in accordance with state law; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the ordinance is in the best interest of the health, welfare, and safety of the public.
NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Barstow hereby ordains as follows:
Section 1. Incorporation of Recitals. The above set forth recitals and findings are true and correct and incorporated herein by reference, as if set forth herein in full. 3 271538.1
Section 2. Finding Regarding the Development Agreement. Based upon the foregoing facts and findings for DA 15 the City Council hereby determines as follows:
A. DA 15 was reviewed and deemed correct and in compliance with Government Code Section 65865.2 and Chapter 19.46 of the Barstow Municipal Code; and B. DA 15, if approved, is in the best interests of the City because the cultivation facility increases commercial vibrancy in the City; and,
C. DA 15 is consistent with the actions, goals, objectives, and policies of the City's General Plan and Zoning Regulations because the project promotes local opportunities for commerce and engagement, and
D. The application to the City was made on forms approved, and contains all information required by the Director and is filed with the Department in compliance with Chapter
19.46; and
E. The application was accompanied by all lawfully required documents, materials, and information; and,
F. With the adoption of this ordinance and development agreement and notwithstanding the requirements in Chapter 19.46 of the Barstow Municipal Code and the City’s Zoning Regulations, the City Council approves the Proposed Project.
Section 3. Approvals. In view of all the evidence and based on the foregoing findings the City Council approves DA 15 and grants a Notice of Exemption for the Proposed Project, subject to the Conditions of Approval in Planning Commission Resolution No. 563-2022 Section 4. Authorization to Execute Development Agreement. Pursuant to Barstow Municipal Code Chapter 19.46, the City Council directs the City Manager and the City Attorney to prepare a development agreement embodying the terms and conditions of the Proposed Project as conditionally approved and authorizes the City Manager to execute the development agreement, which shall be substantially consistent with the proposed development agreement attached as Exhibit "A."
Section 5. CEQA. This ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to CEQA Guidelines§§ 15060(c)(2), 15060(c)(3), 15061(b)(3) and 15378(b)(4). This ordinance will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment; it does not involve a "project" as defined by CEQA Guidelines § 15378; and it is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. It can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility this ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment. Further the City previously approved Ordinance No. 974-2021 on June 7, 2021 and Ordinance No. 977-2021 on October 4, 2021 and those Ordinances were exempt from CEQA under Business and Professions Code section 26055(h) which exempts from CEQA review the adoption of an ordinance, rule, or 4 271538.1
regulation, by a local jurisdiction that requires discretionary review and approval of permits, licenses, or other authorizations to engage in commercial cannabis activity. This Ordinance now acts to amend the Barstow Municipal Code as to procedural requirements.
Section 6. Severability. Should any provision of this Ordinance, or its application to any person or circumstance, be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unlawful, unenforceable or otherwise void, that determination shall have no effect on any other provision of this Ordinance or the application of this Ordinance to any other person or circumstance and, to that end, the provisions hereof are severable.
Section 7. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect thirty days after adoption as provided by Government Code Section 36937.
Section 8. Construction. To the extent the provisions of the Barstow Municipal Code as amended by this Ordinance are substantially the same as the provisions of that Code as it read prior to the adoption of this ordinance, they shall be read as continuations of those earlier provisions and not as new enactments.
Section 9. Certification. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Ordinance and shall give notice of its adoption as required by law. Pursuant to Government Code Section 36933, a summary of this Ordinance may be published and posted in lieu of publication and posting of the entire text.
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PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 17th day of January, 2022 __________________________________
Paul Anthony Courtney, Dr. B.A., Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
Andrea Flores, City Clerk
I, Andrea Flores, City Clerk for the City of Barstow, California, and ex-officio Clerk of the City Council, do hereby certify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of Ordinance No. XXX-2022, which was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Barstow held on the 19th day of December, 2022 and adopted at the regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Barstow on the 17th day of January 2023, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
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Andrea Flores, City Clerk