The San Pablo Planning Commission approved one cannabis retailer this week and expressed concern about another following neighborhood opposition.
Off the Charts approved at Plaza Sobrante
On Oct. 28, commissioners approved a conditional use permit for Off the Charts (OTC) to open at 3550 San Pablo Dam Road, Suite C in the Plaza Sobrante shopping center.
The 1,969-square-foot storefront will operate daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., reuse a long-vacant auto parts space, and meet location/buffer rules and security standards tied to the operator permit issued Oct. 23. No members of the public spoke in opposition. OTC’s chief development officer told commissioners the company chose the site because it’s “relatively off the beaten path” within a multi-tenant center, and noted OTC is a family-owned operator founded in 2018.
Embarc hearing continued
By contrast, a proposal from Embarc to convert the former 7-Eleven at 14501 San Pablo Ave. drew about a dozen speakers opposing the location, many of them members of nearby Word of Faith Church. They cited concerns about the dispensary’s potential impact on local youth, crime, traffic and other quality of life issues.
Three commissioners voiced sympathy for opponents, with one saying the city must ensure investments “are beneficial to folks in our community.” Another commissioner, however, noted the site selection followed publicly adopted guidelines and noted that churches are not treated the same as schools under the city’s distance buffers. In fact, the Off the Charts proposed location is also located next to a church. After discussion, the commission continued the hearing to Nov. 25 for further review.
Policy backdrop
San Pablo voters approved Measure M in November 2024 establishing a cannabis business license tax. In early 2025, the city adopted land-use standards permitting up to three retail cannabis businesses by use permit in specified commercial and mixed-use districts, with required buffers from schools and separation between cannabis retailers. Applicants must secure both an operator permit (with security, hours, surveillance and reporting conditions) and a conditional use permit.
