Planning Commission continues decision on Clear Lake Harvest cultivation project after Burns Valley water concerns

The Clearlake Planning Commission on May 10 continued consideration of a proposed commercial cannabis cultivation project by Clear Lake Harvest Company at roughly 2250 Oglin/Oglund Canyon Road after residents and several commissioners raised concerns about groundwater, cumulative water use, and monitoring in the Burns Valley aquifer.

Assistant planner Michael Taylor presented the application (CUP2021-28 through CUP2021-32) describing Phase 1 as about 10,000 square feet of cultivation within a ~10,200-square-foot greenhouse, a nursery using an existing garage, a 40-by-60-foot processing/delivery-only building, two on-site water storage tanks (~5,000 gallons each), and limited staff (3 employees anticipated in Phase 1; up to 6 in Phase 2). Staff and senior planner Mark Roberts explained they had circulated an initial study and mitigated negative declaration under CEQA to agencies and property owners within 600 feet and received routine agency comments; they highlighted a hydrology memo prepared by Chico Environmental (08/04/2021) that found the site’s well yields about 30 gallons per minute and concluded the Burns Valley basin would not be overdrafted at full buildout, as originally assessed.

Multiple Burns Valley residents — including Vicky Crystal, David Goolsby and Dave Hughes — and emailed commenter Cheryl Sullivan told the commission they have experienced wells going dry, reduced pressure, and other local impacts. Residents said the hydrology materials rely on outdated rainfall or basin data, do not adequately address cumulative impacts from other legal and illegal grows and vineyards, and that a one-and-a-half-hour well test is insufficient to predict multi-season supply. David Goolsby and others asked for additional monitoring, more robust cumulative-analysis, and time for local hydrogeologists to review the record.

Applicant Chris Gretzinger of Clear Lake Harvest Company told the commission the applicant reduced canopy size to 10,000 square feet to cut projected water use, explained the likely Phase 1 staffing (a temporary on-site manager and two to three employees), and said he expects per-square-foot water use may be lower than the conservative figures used in the initial study.

City manager Alan Flora and staff told commissioners CEQA findings require verifiable data and agency input; commissioners asked staff to provide additional hydrology information to the Burns Valley Community Association and suggested the association’s hydrogeologist be given an opportunity to review the project materials. After an informal "temperature check" indicated support for more analysis, Commissioner Williams moved — and Commissioner Stewart seconded — to continue Item 2 to the May 24 planning commission meeting. The roll-call vote recorded Commissioners Williams, Stewart, Vice Chair Coker and Chair Wilson voting "Aye." The commission encouraged the applicant and the Burns Valley Community Association to meet with staff to provide and review additional hydrology information before the next hearing.

Commissioners also discussed whether to refer a moratorium on new water-impacting developments to the City Council; staff advised that a formal moratorium would require council action.