Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Last week, the Mendocino Coast Recreational and Parks District board held a special meeting to discuss several issues including the possibility of rezoning their Regional Park Property located on Highway 20 for cannabis processing.
With the passage of Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act in October and the possibility of legalization of recreational use this coming November, Dan Gjerde requested Andy Gustavson, Chief Planner at the Mendocino County Planning and Building Services, give a presentation to the district board about the option of rezoning their property to allow for some aspect of cannabis processing and manufacturing, but not growing, to take place.
"One of the overlying issues with regards to this district's ownership is that it is a TPZ zone, which is pertinent to only those uses that support timber production or uses that are deemed TPZ compatible," said Gustavson.
If the district decides that they are interested in having cannabis processing on the property or any other use that is not deemed TPZ compatible, the district would have to rezone that property, explained Gustavson.
Gustavson reported there are several ways of going about this including a three-acre conversion, which is a very limited one-time conversion where anything goes provided that there is no direct impact on forest production. There is also a much longer conversion process that involves working with the county and state.
Gustavson also informed the board that the district has the opportunity to use 'overlay zoning' where they can lay out a zoning that sits on top of the existing zoning, which specifies a special set of rules to use within that area.
"The fundamental issue with this local is that we cannot put a zoning down, such as this incentive, that is apparently in conflict with this zone. So if we put a overlay zoning here that would bring in a type of activity that is not related to timber production that would not be permissible. For this site to be a candidate, it would have to change its land use," said Gustavson.
"I don't think we should we associate ourselves with any kind of cultivation or manufacturing of marijuana products through the district especially since our main user is children," said board member Cesar Yanez.
In response, board member Maryellen Sheppard said, "But one of the benefits might be in terms of transitioning this property to a potential buyer."
Gustavson reminded the board that rezoning doesn't have to be solely for cannabis processing, and change can go a lot of different ways. The district hopes to meet with Planning and Building Services at a later date to discuss options for rezoning further.
Area Funding
At the meeting, the board had a round table discussion to gather public input on the concept of funding for programs the district doesn't operate itself as the district begins to prepare their Final Budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year.
Most of the discussion centered around the programs offered through Community Center of Mendocino and the possibility of receiving greater funding from MCRPD in the future. Over the past couple of years, CCM has been working with the district to develop a stronger partnership, and the center was awarded $9,000 for this fiscal year with an understanding that there may be more funding in the future. CCM has recently submitted a proposal for a greater amount this coming fiscal year.
"Part of what we have discovered in the three years of operating CCM, and in particular for the After-School Enrichment Program, is that it is very difficult to accomplish it without the revenue that was used to support it in the past," said Hillary Burgess, board director at CCM, referring to the tax revenue the center once received when is was being operated by MCRPD.
While acknowledging that many people from all along the coast use the services provided at C.V. Starr, several attendees expressed the need for services in Mendocino as well because for some living along the coast it is a long drive to C.V. Starr. One member also pointed out that if you are a parent in the Mendocino Unified School District, programs at CCM are the only option for after-school care.
Board members explained to the public that although they are doing better financially, they still have a lot of debt and have to be conservative with spending.
"If we gave CCM what we gave them last year we would be running a $9,500 deficit, and if we gave the south coast some money we would be running an even greater deficit," said board member Bob Bushansky.
Bushansky further explained that the district has a huge loan that it needs to pay off from the purchase of the Regional Park Property, which the district is not currently paying.
"If we did the things we are supposed to do we would show a severe deficit, so there would be no money for anybody really," said Bushansky.
Bushansky also reminded people that all the property tax goes into a pot, which is then distributed and the district has no idea what is the amount contributed by each individual district.
"We try to allocate as best we can from that pot but no individual community owns any of the money in that pot. We just try and be as fair as we can to make sure everybody gets something. Sometimes we fail, but we try as hard as we can," said Bushansky.
While financially limited, all board members agreed that they need to find a means of supporting programs throughout entire district.
"It is complex and we don't have the answers yet, but I think there is a lot that needs to be looked at in a more creative broad way," said board member Diana Wiedemann.
At their regular board meeting on June 20, the board will be reviewing the preliminary FY 2016-2017 budget for adoption.
Regional Park Property Clean-Up
A representative of the California Recreation Alliance informed the board on the progress of the clean-up project at their Regional Park Property.
The district has been dealing with the issue of illegal dumping for some time at this location, and decided to elicit the help of CRA, which has an AmeriCorps team working on the property for six weeks to clean up the area and try to secure it to prevent from future trespassing.
In their second week, the team has so far gathered seven cars, car parts, tires and several dumpsters full of various household items including diapers, clothes, carpet, and electronic equipment. In addition to items found, they have also discovered evidence of squatters and illegal marijuana grows, the representative reported.
The representative asked the board for help moving large boulders and installing more video cameras to ensure the security of the area.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Cannabis Innovation Zone Presents Possible Revenue Source
Author: Zoe Yudice
Contact: The Mendocino Beacon
Photo Credit: Pixabay
Website: The Mendocino Beacon
With the passage of Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act in October and the possibility of legalization of recreational use this coming November, Dan Gjerde requested Andy Gustavson, Chief Planner at the Mendocino County Planning and Building Services, give a presentation to the district board about the option of rezoning their property to allow for some aspect of cannabis processing and manufacturing, but not growing, to take place.
"One of the overlying issues with regards to this district's ownership is that it is a TPZ zone, which is pertinent to only those uses that support timber production or uses that are deemed TPZ compatible," said Gustavson.
If the district decides that they are interested in having cannabis processing on the property or any other use that is not deemed TPZ compatible, the district would have to rezone that property, explained Gustavson.
Gustavson reported there are several ways of going about this including a three-acre conversion, which is a very limited one-time conversion where anything goes provided that there is no direct impact on forest production. There is also a much longer conversion process that involves working with the county and state.
Gustavson also informed the board that the district has the opportunity to use 'overlay zoning' where they can lay out a zoning that sits on top of the existing zoning, which specifies a special set of rules to use within that area.
"The fundamental issue with this local is that we cannot put a zoning down, such as this incentive, that is apparently in conflict with this zone. So if we put a overlay zoning here that would bring in a type of activity that is not related to timber production that would not be permissible. For this site to be a candidate, it would have to change its land use," said Gustavson.
"I don't think we should we associate ourselves with any kind of cultivation or manufacturing of marijuana products through the district especially since our main user is children," said board member Cesar Yanez.
In response, board member Maryellen Sheppard said, "But one of the benefits might be in terms of transitioning this property to a potential buyer."
Gustavson reminded the board that rezoning doesn't have to be solely for cannabis processing, and change can go a lot of different ways. The district hopes to meet with Planning and Building Services at a later date to discuss options for rezoning further.
Area Funding
At the meeting, the board had a round table discussion to gather public input on the concept of funding for programs the district doesn't operate itself as the district begins to prepare their Final Budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year.
Most of the discussion centered around the programs offered through Community Center of Mendocino and the possibility of receiving greater funding from MCRPD in the future. Over the past couple of years, CCM has been working with the district to develop a stronger partnership, and the center was awarded $9,000 for this fiscal year with an understanding that there may be more funding in the future. CCM has recently submitted a proposal for a greater amount this coming fiscal year.
"Part of what we have discovered in the three years of operating CCM, and in particular for the After-School Enrichment Program, is that it is very difficult to accomplish it without the revenue that was used to support it in the past," said Hillary Burgess, board director at CCM, referring to the tax revenue the center once received when is was being operated by MCRPD.
While acknowledging that many people from all along the coast use the services provided at C.V. Starr, several attendees expressed the need for services in Mendocino as well because for some living along the coast it is a long drive to C.V. Starr. One member also pointed out that if you are a parent in the Mendocino Unified School District, programs at CCM are the only option for after-school care.
Board members explained to the public that although they are doing better financially, they still have a lot of debt and have to be conservative with spending.
"If we gave CCM what we gave them last year we would be running a $9,500 deficit, and if we gave the south coast some money we would be running an even greater deficit," said board member Bob Bushansky.
Bushansky further explained that the district has a huge loan that it needs to pay off from the purchase of the Regional Park Property, which the district is not currently paying.
"If we did the things we are supposed to do we would show a severe deficit, so there would be no money for anybody really," said Bushansky.
Bushansky also reminded people that all the property tax goes into a pot, which is then distributed and the district has no idea what is the amount contributed by each individual district.
"We try to allocate as best we can from that pot but no individual community owns any of the money in that pot. We just try and be as fair as we can to make sure everybody gets something. Sometimes we fail, but we try as hard as we can," said Bushansky.
While financially limited, all board members agreed that they need to find a means of supporting programs throughout entire district.
"It is complex and we don't have the answers yet, but I think there is a lot that needs to be looked at in a more creative broad way," said board member Diana Wiedemann.
At their regular board meeting on June 20, the board will be reviewing the preliminary FY 2016-2017 budget for adoption.
Regional Park Property Clean-Up
A representative of the California Recreation Alliance informed the board on the progress of the clean-up project at their Regional Park Property.
The district has been dealing with the issue of illegal dumping for some time at this location, and decided to elicit the help of CRA, which has an AmeriCorps team working on the property for six weeks to clean up the area and try to secure it to prevent from future trespassing.
In their second week, the team has so far gathered seven cars, car parts, tires and several dumpsters full of various household items including diapers, clothes, carpet, and electronic equipment. In addition to items found, they have also discovered evidence of squatters and illegal marijuana grows, the representative reported.
The representative asked the board for help moving large boulders and installing more video cameras to ensure the security of the area.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Cannabis Innovation Zone Presents Possible Revenue Source
Author: Zoe Yudice
Contact: The Mendocino Beacon
Photo Credit: Pixabay
Website: The Mendocino Beacon
