Planning Commission recommends approval of Ogilin Hills commercial cannabis project; forwards CUPs and development agreement to City Council

The City of Clear Lake Planning Commission on Nov. 9 recommended approval of four use permits and a development agreement for a commercial cannabis operation proposed by Ogilin Hills Holdings LLC at 2185 Ogland Canyon Road.

Staff opened the public hearing and summarized the project, listing CUP 2021-05 (manufacturing), CUP 2021-06 (cultivation and processing), CUP 2021-07 (distribution) and CUP 2021-08 (retail — delivery only), plus Development Agreement DA 2021-05 and Initial Study IS 2021-02. Staff said the 21.25-acre parcel would host two 5,000-square-foot manufacturing/processing buildings, a roughly 3,000-square-foot distribution/office/retail-delivery building, and 10 greenhouses totaling about 18,750 square feet; parking would include about 42 spaces, four of them ADA.

On water, staff summarized the applicant’s report: the project would use an existing permitted well reported at about 375 feet deep with a yield of approximately 80 gallons per minute and an estimated annual capacity of about 9.9 million gallons. Staff reported projected annual project use at roughly 582,000 gallons (about 450,000 gallons for cultivation irrigation plus about 132,000 gallons for light industrial/warehouse/distribution). Staff said the well would fill on-site storage tanks, be metered, and daily consumption logs would be kept. “They’re gonna be using an existing permitted well,” staff said, and described conservation measures including drip irrigation, mulch, soil moisture monitoring and immediate repairs to leaks.

Planning consultant Richard Noll, representing the applicant, described the site plan and said the property was purchased from the city. He told commissioners the project team had engaged civil, water resources, traffic, archaeological and biological professionals and said, “We think we’ve addressed all the issues that have surfaced, and we hope that you’ll agree in approving the project tonight.” Noll and staff described odor-control measures for greenhouses, including exhaust fans fitted with charcoal filters and the ability to add additional odor control if necessary.

Commissioners pressed on neighborhood and environmental protections. Commissioner Williams asked whether oak trees that might be removed would be replaced; staff confirmed oak-mitigation policies apply and stated a 2:1 replacement ratio is used (replacement may occur on-site or at a city property for a fee when on-site replanting isn’t feasible). Williams also said county-required water reviews and the applicant’s additional reports made him more comfortable about groundwater impacts. New Commissioner Stewart asked about notifications to nearby residents; staff said notices are mailed to property owners within 600 feet and that others can request to be added to the mailing list.

Staff said the initial study was circulated under CEQA for 36 days (exceeding the 30-day minimum) and that comments from Lake County Environmental Health, the Central Valley Water Board, the Lake County Fire District and the Lake County Air Quality Management District were incorporated into the conditions of approval. Staff recommended the commission adopt Resolution PC2021-22 approving the CUPs with conditions and Resolution PC2021-21 recommending adoption of the Mitigated Negative Declaration and approval of the development agreement by the City Council.

No public comments were received during the hearing. Commissioners moved and seconded the resolutions; roll call votes recorded Commissioners Williams, Vice Chair Coker, Chair Wilson and Commissioner Stewart as “Aye” and the motions passed.

Next steps: the Planning Commission forwarded the recommended Mitigated Negative Declaration and the development agreement to the City Council for its consideration; the council will set its own schedule for review and final action.