April 3, 2024
City of Salinas Planning Commission
c/o City of Salinas Community Development Department
65 West Alisal Street, 2nd Floor
Salinas, CA 93901
RE: Conditional Use Permit 2022-048 and Commercial Cannabis Permit 2023-007 1228 South Main Street, Salinas
Dear Members of the Planning Commission:
Thank you for the opportunity to present our project to you. We would like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves and our business to you.
CannaCruz is a reputable company with a proven track record in the City of Salinas (and also in Moss Landing and Santa Cruz). When the City first opened its permitting process in 2016, we submitted a comprehensive application and underwent a rigorous and competitive process that included a review of our zoning, security plan, procedures, financials, and qualifications of our principals – Grant Palmer and Brad Palmer (yes, we are brothers). Our application was scored by a consultant, and we were selected to be interviewed by the City Selection Committee. Our permit was then approved by the City Council at a public meeting. Our final score placed us in the top 3 applicants, and we were awarded 1 of 3 storefront retail permits. After undergoing the City’s building permit process, including payment of substantial traffic impact fees, we opened our business at 1156 Abbott in 2018. Needless to say, we had to overcome many more hurdles than the average business. Not only were we successful in securing a permit, but also, we were successful in opening and operating our business.
We are not opening a new business or adding to the number of dispensaries in the City. Not only is there a limited number of available permits, but also cannabis permits are not transferable.
The owners of our current Abbott Street location need the space, and we must find a new location to move our permit. We are applying for an amendment of our permit to relocate.
CannaCruz shares the community’s objectives regarding appearances and safety. These factors are vital for any business or resident.
Our project includes fencing along the property lines and parking lot and upgraded landscaping in the front, including berms, boulders, grasses, groundcover, and a built-in or above-ground DocuSign Envelope ID: 3EA607D1-1E03-4008-A116-5B7A76CE5A14
planter with ornamental trees or shrubs and/or seasonal color. In the near future, we plan to update the exterior finishes to enhance our façade. Our entrance will be located in the rear of the building, with another retail use fronting S. Main Street, minimizing visibility of our store.
Our business operates safely and soundly. Our security is extremely tight and well above the City’s and State’s security requirements. Our security system, which includes motion sensors, video and alarm, enables a quick response to any threats. The acting Police Chief has reviewed our security plan and has found it to be “sound.” The Salinas Police Department has 24/7 live remote viewing access to our entire security camera system. And even though we haven’t moved in yet, we have cooperated with our new landlord to provide a fence and security patrol to guard against vandalism and trespassing.
We comply with the State’s “track and trace” requirements, and every product is traced from seed to sale. We have youth access restrictions, which include security guards monitoring the interior and exterior and required identification checks. We have NEVER had any incidents involving youth. Our product is tested by an independent licensed laboratory before being added to our inventory. Our in-place measures have been successful in preventing any issues, and if an issue ever arises (likely outside of our business), we will be able to help to get to the bottom of it.
In summary, we are confident that our track record, landscape and façade treatments, security measures, safety measures and responsible and compliant business practices will enhance South Main Street and the community. We welcome anyone who has concerns to reach out to us to discuss what we can do. We cannot guarantee that all issues can be avoided, but we can promise that we will use best practices to proactively address any potential problems.
Please find attached background information on our project for your reference. Thank you again for your consideration.
Very truly yours,
CannaCruz
Brad Palmer Grant Palmer
[email protected] [email protected]
DocuSign Envelope ID: 3EA607D1-1E03-4008-A116-5B7A76CE5A14