RED BLUFF — The Tehama County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday for the marijuana ad-hoc committee to continue discussions regarding outdoor cultivation waivers.
A common theme was the need for discussion of an ordinance that defines lawful abatement in Tehama County. Deputy County Counsel Daniel Klausner had a hand out during his presentation of what rules are in place that showed options for abatement, but nothing has been defined in an ordinance, said Board Chairwoman Candy Carlson.
While the definition of lawful abatement was not on the agenda Tuesday, it could be reviewed by the committee in the future if the board approves further discussions, Carlson said.
Conversations were held for several months and a draft outdoor medical cannabis waiver provision was presented in April. Consensus could not be reached and the item was brought back to the full board to ask whether the ad-hoc committee should continue discussions or stick with the rules in place, which ban outdoor cultivation outright, Carlson said.
The draft ordinance for the waiver had a list of 14 requirements, including for medicinal grows to be registered and on owner-occupied lots with a 10-acre parcel minimum and a maximum of six plants.
This list included a growing plan listing chemicals used and a description of runoff, a plot plan identifying where the grow was located in relation to neighbors and notification of neighbors.
Requirements included a 1,000-foot buffer from schools and bus stops and no visibility from the road or neighboring properties.
A permit for the waiver would be required and have a processing fee for cost recovery. It would give a right of entry for compliance checks and a maximum of 60 waivers would granted. That number could be set higher, Carlson said.
A resident questioned the 10 acre minimum, as only a few parcels in Rancho Tehama are more than 10 acres. The majority are 1-5 acres, Supervisor Bob Williams said.
Security barriers must be identified and a review committee established with appeals for decisions going before the supervisors.
Robert Halpin, a retired planning department employee, said he agreed with much of what was in the draft but there should be some alterations.
Halpin suggested a 600-foot setback from schools, library, public parks or day care; renter with owner permission in a notarized document; and 100 feet or less from an adjoining residence with a statement from the adjoining property owner.
Rancho Tehama resident Martha Kleykemp said she hoped supervisors would consider outdoor waivers as lighting permitted was inadequate for indoor cultivation.
Another woman said six plants is not enough, especially when more than one patient lived at the same location.
Both Williams and Supervisor Steve Chamblin said their experience was that people did not want to register. Williams said he was willing to consider a rented property with owner permission and the lot sides, but not the number of plants.
“The original ordinance was for 99 plants on 160 acres and above,” Williams said. “We were assured by growers they would self police … There were few registrations and many violations.”
