City of Sacramento Page 1
LAW AND LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
Caity Maple, Chair, District 5
Roger Dickinson, District 2
Phil Pluckebaum, District 4
Rick Jennings, II, District 7
COMMITTEE STAFF
Mindy Cuppy,
City Clerk
Steve Itagaki,
Supervising Deputy City Attorney
Consuelo Hernandez,
Director of Governmental Affairs
Law and Legislation
Committee
City Hall Complex
915 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Published by the Office of the City Clerk
(916) 80
8-7200
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL
D
escription of Attached: Attached is supplemental material received after publishing the agenda, the addition of attachment 4.
For
the Meeting of: Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.
A
genda Item: Item 4
4. A
n Ordinance Amending Various Provisions of Title 17 Relating to Cannabis Land Uses (M25-003)
File ID: 2025-00684
Location: Citywide
R
ecommendation: 1) Review an ordinance amending various provisions of Title 17 of the Sacramento City Code, relating to cannabis land uses; and 2) pass a Motion forwarding the ordinance to City Council for consideration.
C
ontact: Kirk Skierski, Senior Planner, (916) 808-7933,
[email protected]; Kevin Colin, Zoning Administrator, (916) 808-5260, [email protected]; Department of Community Development
City of Sacramento
Law and Legislation Committee Report
915 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2025-00684 4/8/2025 Item 4.
An Ordinance Amending Various Provisions of Title 17 Relating to Cannabis Land Uses (M25- 003)
File ID: 2025-00684
Location: Citywide
Recommendation: 1) Review an ordinance amending various provisions of Title 17 of the Sacramento City Code, relating to cannabis land uses; and 2) pass a Motion forwarding the ordinance to City Council for consideration.
Contact: Kirk Skierski, Senior Planner, (916) 808-7933, [email protected]; Kevin Colin, Zoning Administrator, (916) 808-5260, [email protected]; Department of Community Development
Presenter: Kirk Skierski, Senior Planner, (916) 808-7933, [email protected]; Kevin Colin, Zoning Administrator, (916) 808-5260, [email protected]; Department of Community Development
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-March 13, 2025 Planning and Design Commission Staff Report 3-Planning and Design Commission Meeting Summary
4-Presentation
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: On March 13, 2025, staff presented to the Planning and Design Commission an ordinance that proposes comprehensive and substantive changes to how cannabis land uses are regulated. The ordinance and accompanying staff report are at Attachment 2. The ordinance is the culmination of a process begun after completion of a Comprehensive Cannabis Study in 2022 and guided by City Council policy direction provided on May 31, 2022.
As reflected in the summary at Attachment 3, the Commission agreed in part with the staff recommendation. Each point of City Council direction is provided below along with a summary of both the staff and Commission recommendations.
Council Point of Direction #1: Review current cannabis business zoning to determine if they
File ID: 2025-00684 4/8/2025 Item 4.
continue to serve the purposes for which they were adopted.
Staff Recommendation: Change the required permit from a Conditional Use Permit to an Administrative Permit for all cannabis land uses, except for cannabis consumption lounges.
PDC Recommendation
: Change the required permit from a Conditional Use Permit to an Administrative Permit for all cannabis land uses, except for cannabis cultivation, cannabis dispensary, and cannabis consumption lounge.
Council Point of Direction #2: Consider additional zones for storefront and delivery-only dispensaries and consider storefront dispensaries as an allowed use in RMX and C-3 zones.
Staff Recommendation
: Add the RMX, C-1, and C-3 to the zones allowing storefront dispensaries. No additional zones are recommended for delivery-only dispensaries.
PDC Recommendation
: Same as staff recommendation.
Council Point of Direction #3: Consider additional zones for non-volatile manufacturing (including infusion and packaging).
Staff Recommendation
: No additional zones are recommended for non-volatile manufacturing.
PDC Recommendation: Same as staff recommendation.
Council Point of Direction #4: Consider limiting cannabis uses near sensitive uses such as schools, youth centers, drug and alcohol treatment centers, neighborhood and community parks, and faith-based institutions.
Staff Recommendation: Change the sensitive use types and separation requirements for cannabis land uses as follows:
· For all cannabis land uses, require a buffer for K-12 schools of 600 feet. · For cannabis dispensaries and consumption lounges, require 600-foot buffer from the following sensitive uses:
o Neighborhood, community and regional parks;
o Community centers;
o Libraries;
o Museums;
o Substance abuse rehabilitation centers; and
o Youth-oriented facilities.
· Remove the ability to locate within a sensitive use buffer and, instead, prohibit locating
File ID: 2025-00684 4/8/2025 Item 4.
within the buffer.
PDC Recommendation: Change the sensitive use types and separation requirements for cannabis land uses as follows:
· For all cannabis land uses, require a buffer for K-12 schools of 600 feet (same as staff). · For cannabis dispensaries and cannabis consumption lounges, require 600-foot buffer from the following sensitive uses:
o Neighborhood, community and regional parks
o Community centers
o Libraries
o Museums
o Substance abuse rehabilitation centers
o Youth-oriented facilities
o Childcare Centers (added by Commission)
o Church or faith congregation (added by Commission)
o Other dispensary (added by Commission)
However, allow the ability to locate within these sensitive use buffer (except for K-12 schools) with a Conditional Use Permit reviewed by the Planning and Design Commission, as authorized by existing regulations (different from staff).
Council Point of Direction #5: Consider reviewing suitability of mixed light cannabis uses in industrial/manufacturing zones.
Staff Recommendation
: No amendments are recommended.
PDC Recommendation: Same as staff recommendation.
Council Point of Direction #6: Consider a zoning and permit type for cannabis research and development (R&D) facilities.
Staff Recommendation
: Amend the existing “cannabis testing” definition to include cannabis
File ID: 2025-00684 4/8/2025 Item 4.
research and development uses.
PDC Recommendation: Same as staff recommendation.
Council Point of Direction #7: Consider removing distribution from the current uses subject to a district-based square-footage cap.
Staff Recommendation
: Remove cannabis distribution from the district based square footage cap.
PDC Recommendation
: Same as staff recommendation.
Staff is seeking direction relating to the ordinance amending various portions of Title 17 relating to cannabis land uses. Options for consideration are as follows:
1. Proceed to the City Council with the ordinance staff recommended to Planning and Design Commission; or
2. Proceed to the City Council with an ordinance that includes the Planning & Design Commission’s recommendations; or
3. Return to the Law and Legislation Committee with an ordinance reflecting other direction from the Law and Legislation Committee received during the April 8, 2025 meeting.
Policy Considerations: The following 2040 General Plan goals are applicable to the topic of City Code amendments for cannabis land uses:
Land Use Element
Goal LUP-2: Balanced and connected community with thriving neighborhoods and centers and development intensities linked to transit.
Goal LUP-4: Walkable, transit-oriented centers and corridors that concentrate new jobs, housing, and entertainment opportunities to support frequent, reliable transit service and foster connected, accessible neighborhoods.
Goal LUP-5: Attractive, thriving commercial centers that are well-located to serve the needs of Sacramento residents, workers, and visitors.
Goal LUP-7: Industrial opportunities in suitable locations to provide employment for Sacramento residents and promote inclusive economic growth in the city.
File ID: 2025-00684 4/8/2025 Item 4.
Goal LUP-11: Create built and natural environments within the city that prioritize, support, promote, and embrace social equity, ecological regeneration, responsible resource stewardship, and human health and well-being.
Economic Development Element
Goal E-1: A dynamic, resilient economy with a diverse array of business in established and emerging industry sectors.
Goal E-2: Sustained, inclusive growth that generates long-term, shared value in the community and creates economic opportunities for all residents.
Goal E-3: A business environment conducive to growth, investment, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas.
Environmental Justice
Goal EJ-5: Investments that address long-standing inequities, empower disadvantaged residents, and build neighborhood resilience.
Youth, Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Element
Goal YPRO-1: An integrated system of parks, open space areas, shared-use paths, and recreational facilities that are welcoming, well-maintained, safe, and accessible to all the diverse communities of Sacramento.
Economic Impacts: Not applicable.
Environmental Considerations: The Community Development Department, Environmental Planning Services Section has determined that the proposed ordinance is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
It can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment. The proposed ordinance modifies the permit-processing rules for cannabis production, testing, and dispensaries, all of which are currently authorized under the city code with a conditional use permit. The proposed ordinance authorizes these uses by right in various zones (including the addition of the Residential Mixed Use (RMX), Limited Commercial Zone (C-1), and Central Business Zone (C-3), based on the conclusions in the 2022 Comprehensive Cannabis study, which determined that these uses have no impacts on the surrounding areas. The proposed ordinance also authorizes a new land use - cannabis consumption lounge - but this use is allowed
File ID: 2025-00684 4/8/2025 Item 4.
only in storefront cannabis dispensaries, which is an existing authorized use, and only with approval of a conditional use permit, which is a discretionary entitlement in which environmental review will be undertaken during the permit process. Nonetheless, the addition of a consumption lounge within a storefront cannabis dispensary will not result in a significant effect on the environment. The proposed ordinance also refines the existing code’s separation requirements of all cannabis land uses from other ‘sensitive’ land uses (e.g., parks, libraries, community centers, youth-oriented facilities) and refines the definitions of some of these uses.
Sustainability: The proposed ordinance includes amendments that help to make zoning standards easier to understand and implement. This will help facilitate development in the City in a manner consistent with existing policy, including that relating to sustainability.
Commission/Committee Action: The following actions were taken to initiate the proposed cannabis amendments to Title 17 of the City Code:
· On May 31, 2022, the City Council directed staff to evaluate seven points of direction relating to cannabis zoning regulations and return with recommended cannabis zoning amendments. · On September 19, 2023, the Law and Legislation Committee directed Office of Cannabis Management (“OCM”) to develop a pilot framework for cannabis social consumption lounges. · On May 21, 2024, the Law and Legislation Committee heard updates on the Title 17 Cannabis Amendments project and directed staff to bring back a package of policy recommendations for consideration.
· On May 21, 2024, OCM provided an informational update to the Law and Legislation Committee regarding a framework for consumption lounge business operating permits. The Committee provided direction to return with a framework to allow consumption business operating permits for all storefront dispensaries.
· On September 12, 2024, the Planning and Design Commission discussed preliminary recommendations of the Title 17 Cannabis Amendments Project and provided feedback to the proposed Title 17 cannabis amendments.
· On September 17, 2024, OCM presented a cannabis consumption business operating permit framework to the Law and Legislation Committee. The Committee forwarded the pilot program concept for social consumption to City Council for consideration but requested a City Council workshop soliciting the expertise of public health experts regarding cannabis consumption statewide public health trends prior to Council consideration of social consumption. · On October 22, 2024, the City Council heard presentations from public health experts
File ID: 2025-00684 4/8/2025 Item 4.
discussing statewide public health trends and secondhand smoke in dispensaries. · On November 19, 2024, the City Council adopted an ordinance amending Title 5 concerning business regulations for cannabis consumption lounges.
· On March 13, 2025, the Planning and Design Commission passed a motion forwarding a recommendation of approval, as amended, to the City Council. See Attachment 2 for the March 13, 2025 staff report and ordinance.
Rationale for Recommendation: This discussion provides an opportunity for input and direction on how the Committee would like to proceed with the City Council’s direction on cannabis land use regulations and Planning and Design Commission recommendations.
Financial Considerations: Not applicable.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
Title 17 Cannabis Amendments
April 8, 2025 Law & Legislation Committee
Presentation Overview
1. Council Direction
2. Recommendations
a) Staff
b) Planning & Design Commission
3. Next Steps
2 Comprehensive Cannabis Study: Direction
1. Review purpose
2. Dispensary zones
3. Manufacturing zones
4. Sensitive use buffers
5. Mixed-light facilities
6. Research & Development
7. Cannabis distribution
Comprehensive Cannabis Study: Direction
1. Review purpose
2. Dispensary zones
3. Manufacturing zones
4. Sensitive use buffers
5. Mixed-light facilities
6. Research & Development
7. Cannabis distribution
Council Direction #1
Review current
cannabis business
zoning to determine if
they continue to serve
the purpose for which
they were adopted
5 Attachment 2, Pages 2 to 4
6 Dispensary Cultivation Distribution Manufacturing Testi ng Consumption Lounge
By-Right/No
Permit
Ministerial
Permit
Discretionary
Permit
Permit Process: Existing
Permit Process: Staff Recommendation
7 Dispensary Cultivation Distribution Manufacturing Testi ng Consumption Lounge
By-Right/No
Permit
Ministerial
Permit
Discretionary
Permit
Permit Process: PDC Recommendation
8 Dispensary Cultivation Distribution Manufacturing Testi ng Consumption Lounge
By-Right/No
Permit
Ministerial
Permit
Discretionary
Permit
9 Permit Process: Conditional Use Permits
10 Permit Process: Administrative Permits
Staff
Decision
-
Approve
or
Deny
Property
Owners
Mailed
Notice
Property
Owners
Mailed
Notice
Recon-
sideration
-
Planning
Director
Council Direction #4
Consider limiting sensitive
uses to schools, youth-
oriented facilities, drug
and treatment centers,
faith-based institutions,
and neighborhood and
community parks
11 Attachment 2, Pages 10 to 18
Existing
Sensitive Uses
Dispensary Sensitive Uses
K-12 School
Park
Youth-Oriented Facility
Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Center
Faith-Based Institution
Childcare In-home/Center
Other Dispensary
Cinema
Tobacco Retailer
Residential Zone
Existing
Sensitive Uses
Dispensary Sensitive Uses
K-12 School
Park
Youth-Oriented Facility
Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Center
Faith-Based Institution
Childcare In-home/Center
Other Dispensary
Cinema
Tobacco Retailer
Residential Zone
300-foot buffer
Existing
Sensitive Uses
Dispensary Sensitive Uses
K-12 School
Park
Youth-Oriented Facility
Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Center
Faith-Based Institution
Childcare In-home/Center
Other Dispensary
Cinema
Tobacco Retailer
Residential Zone
600-foot buffer
Existing
Sensitive Uses
Dispensary Sensitive Uses
K-12 School
Park
Youth-Oriented Facility
Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Center
Faith-Based Institution
Childcare In-home/Center
Other Dispensary
Cinema
Tobacco Retailer
Residential Zone
NOT
MANDATORY
16 Dispensary Sensitive Uses
K-12 School
Park
Youth-Oriented Facility
Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Center
Faith-Based Institution
Childcare In-home/Center
Other Dispensary
Cinema
Tobacco Retailer
Residential Zone
Proposed
Sensitive Uses
Keep
Redefine
Remove
Add
Proposed
Sensitive Uses
17 Dispensary Sensitive Uses
K-12 School
Park
Youth-Oriented Facility
Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Center
Faith-Based Institution
Childcare In-home/Center
Other Dispensary
Cinema
Tobacco Retailer
Residential Zone
Keep
Staff & Commission
18 Dispensary Sensitive Uses
K-12 School
Park
Youth-Oriented Facility
Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Center
Faith-Based Institution
Childcare In-home/Center
Other Dispensary
Cinema
Tobacco Retailer
Residential Zone
Proposed
Sensitive Uses
Redefine
Staff & Commission
19 Proposed
Sensitive Uses
Remove
Staff
Dispensary Sensitive Uses
K-12 School
Park
Youth-Oriented Facility
Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Center
Faith-Based Institution
Childcare In-home/Center
Other Dispensary
Cinema
Tobacco Retailer
Residential Zone
Dispensary Sensitive Uses
K-12 School
Park
Youth-Oriented Facility
Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Center
Faith-Based Institution
Childcare In-home/Center
Other Dispensary
Cinema
Tobacco Retailer
Residential Zone
20 Proposed
Sensitive Uses
Remove
Commission
21 Dispensary Sensitive Uses
K-12 School
Park
Youth-Oriented Facility
Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Center
Community Center
Library
Museum
Proposed
Sensitive Uses
Add
Staff & Commission
22 Proposed
Sensitive Uses
Keep
600-foot buffer
Dispensary Sensitive Uses
K-12 School
Park
Youth-Oriented Facility
Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Center
Faith-Based Institution
Childcare Center
Other Dispensary
Community Center
Library
Museum
23 PDC
Recommendation
Keep
PDC w/in Buffer
ZA outside Buffer
Dispensary Sensitive Uses
K-12 School
Park
Youth-Oriented Facility
Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Center
Faith-Based Institution
Childcare Center
Other Dispensary
Community Center
Library
Museum
K-12 schools
Parks
Community centers
Libraries
Museums
Rehabilitation centers
Youth -oriented facilities
24 Staff
Sensitive Uses
25 PDC
Sensitive Uses
K-12 schools
Parks
Community centers
Libraries
Museums
Rehabilitation centers
Youth -oriented facilities
Faith -based institutions
Childcare centers
Other dispensary
PDC Recommendation
Sensitive Uses
K-12 schools
Parks
Community centers
Libraries
Museums
Rehabilitation centers
Youth -oriented facilities
Faith -based institutions
Childcare centers
Other dispensary
26 STAFF PDC
Staff Recommendation
Provide direction to staff to:
1. Proceed to City Council with ordinance staff recommended to Planning & Design Commission; or
2. Proceed to City Council with ordinance including Planning & Design Commission recommendations; or
3. Return to Law & Legislation Committee with an ordinance reflecting direction received today.
27 Next Steps
Law and Legislation Committee April 8, 2025
City Council (Pass for publication) May 13, 2025
City Council (Public Hearing) May 20, 2025
28 Thanks!
Contact:
Kirk Skierski, Senior Planner
(916) 808-7933
[email protected]
29