The San Pablo Planning Commission recommended this week that the City Council approve amending the city’s zoning ordinance to allow for up to three cannabis retail stores to operate within city limits.
In 2017, San Pablo adopted an ordinance prohibiting commercial cannabis activities and businesses within the city, including recreational and medical facilities, delivery and cultivation. The only exception has been for personal cultivation of up to six cannabis plants, as required by state law.
But with the proliferation of legal cannabis businesses bringing tax revenues to cities all over the state, the City of San Pablo is lifting its prohibition. While the city will not allow cannabis cultivation or production and manufacturing facilities, it will allow up to three cannabis retail locations in designated commercial areas of the city.
These stores must be 750 feet from elementary and middles schools, 1,250 feet from high schools and 1,000 feet from other commercial cannabis businesses. However, the Planning Commission is requesting that the City Council explore lengthening some of the buffer zones. The Commission also suggested that the Council consider looking into whether to allow on-site consumption of cannabis.
To operate, dispensaries will need both an operators permit and a conditional use permit from the city.
According to the existing recommended buffer zones, eligible areas where dispensaries would be able to locate include the San Pablo Town Centre area, some parts of San Pablo Dam Road, small sections of San Pablo Avenue and 23rd Street and most of Rumrill Boulevard.
In the November election, city voters passed Measure M with 72.69 percent support to allow the city to begin taxing legal cannabis businesses. The tax is expected to generate $1-2 million annually for the city.
The San Pablo City Council is expected to review the proposed ordinance amendment at its March 3 meeting. If approved, the city expects to release requests for proposals from prospective cannabis retail businesses that very day.