Title
Bear Butte Farms, LLC Conditional Use Permit
Case Numbers CUP 16-330
Assessor’s Parcel Numbers (APN) 221-230-003
600 F Street, Suite 3 #523, Arcata area
A Conditional Use Permit for an existing 21,780 square foot (sf) outdoor commercial medical cannabis cultivation, and relocation of approximately 9,000 sf of outdoor cultivation to a more environmentally suitable location outside of the streamside management area is planned. This project includes a Special Permit for the remediation of these relocated areas within a Streamside Management area. All water used for cultivation of cannabis is sourced from a 300,000 gallon rainwater catchment pond on the 51.7 acre parcel. The applicant estimates that a maximum of 200,000 gallons of water are needed for cultivation activities during the growing season (March to October) and 70,000 gallons of water are used annually in the existing single-family residence. Water is stored during the forbearance period in the 300,000 gallon rainwater catchment pond and 88,500 gallons across eleven storage tanks (single 1,000, 2,500, and 45,000 gallon tanks as well as eight 5,000 gallon tanks). The onsite water storage capacity of 388,500 gallons exceeds annual demand by 100,000 gallons. Appurtenant drying of cannabis product grown on-site occurs inside an existing 480 sf barn, all other processing will occur off-site at a licensed facility. There will be a total of two full time family member employees and an additional two employees during peak periods. Electricity is provided from an onsite solar power system with generators available for backup use. The existing single-family residence is served by on-site water and sewage disposal systems.
Recommendation
Find the project Categorically Exempt from environmental review pursuant to Sections 15301, 15304, and 15333 of the State CEQA Guidelines, make all of the required findings for approval of the Conditional Use Permit based on evidence in the staff report and any public tes...
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