Report Prepared by: Stephani Davis, Development Services Technician II, Development Services Department; Scott McBride, Director of Development Services.
Title
SUBJECT: Appeal of the Planning Commission's Approval of Commercial Cannabis Business Permit (CCBP) #22-02R for Retail Cannabis at 1111 Motel Drive by Edwin Kainth
REPORT IN BRIEF
Edwin Kainth has appealed the Planning Commission's approval of Commercial Cannabis Business Permit #22-02R (Culture Merced Dispensary) for a retail cannabis facility at 1111 Motel Drive.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Granting or denying the appeal of Edwin Kainth; and,
B. Providing direction to staff regarding findings to grant or deny appeal, with or without prejudice.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Deny appeal, affirming the approval of CCBP #22-02R and Environmental Review #22-04; or,
2. Deny appeal, modifying the approval of CCBP #22-02R and Environmental Review #22-04 (modifications to be specified in the motion); or,
3. Grant the appeal, reversing the approval of CCBP #22-02R and Environmental Review #22-04, and directing staff on how to proceed with the retail cannabis permit selection process; or,
4. Continue to a future City Council meeting (date and time to be specified in the motion).
AUTHORITY
City of Merced Ordinance #2532, Merced Municipal Code Section 20.44.170 (Attachment 6).
DISCUSSION
Background
In January 2022, Staff began the application process for the fifth commercial cannabis retail permit. The City received eleven (11) applications; 9 of the submitted applications succeeded to Phase 2 Merit-based review with the City's Selection Panel consisting of the City Manager, the Police Chief, and the Director of Development Services. At the conclusion of the Selection Panel scoring, CCBP #22-02R (Culture Cannabis Merced), proposed at 1111 Motel Drive, received the highest rank with an average score of 95.33.
On November 9, 2022, a public hearing was held and CCBP #22-02R was presented...
Click here for full text