The Benicia City Council decided how the city would determine the scoring and evaluation criteria for commercial cannabis at its Tuesday meeting.
At the Feb. 20 council meeting, councilmembers approved four ordinances which allowed for personal cultivation of cannabis for private or commercial use, requiring all commercial cannabis uses in Benicia to obtain two approvals of a Public Safety License and use permit before operating, allowing a maximum of two retail locations in Benicia subject to a competitive process, and allowing a maximum of one microbusiness location in Benicia.
It was proposed the city manager select five people to serve on a committee who will review each cannabis application. Committee members would sum their scores in each category to generate a total score for each applicant. A minimum score of 80 percent will be required for applicants to proceed with the applicants with the highest scores will progress.
Staff recommended the council approve scoring and evaluation criteria. The council approved staff’s recommendation with the clarification of the numbers being used to score cannabis applications.
In other business, a public hearing to consider the adoption of a 45-day interim urgency ordinance enacting a moratorium on work/ living quarters and adopting objective planning standards for mixed-use and residential developments that are subject to a streamlined ministerial process was dealt with at the meeting.
Staff recommended the council adopt the interim urgency ordinance to enact a moratorium on work/live quarters and establish objective standards for mixed-use and residential developments. A vote was required by four out of five councilmembers to pass the item. The council approved the motion with a change in direction regarding building requirements to city staff.
The council will next meet Tuesday, April 3.
Sharing is caring!
Benicia should send American Canyon a thank you note for the gift last evening. Their council spooked and extended the cannabis moratorium until November. Meanwhile, their brand new Napa Logistics Park cannot be used for commercial cannabis, and is unlikely to be until sometime in 2019 at the snail’s pace they are going. Vallejo does not have an industrial park. I hope we have enough capacity at BIP to accommodate the rush, or if not these folks have the big money investors behind them to build a new facility if there is space at BIP or anywhere else Benicia permits new construction for the industry. What I heard last night at our council meeting is that we need a couple added staff dedicated to developing/processing applications.
Very simple WPM, there will be two allowable retail cannabis stores in Benicia. The permitted operators will pay big rent to have that opportunity. So as it stands now the chance of those two operating in Benicia is slim and none. The BIP is the last chance. That more than likely will happen but not until about 2019 or later. The e3xpected revenue will not be what Stan thinks.
WBM, Vallejo does not have an industrial park, but they do have Mare Island. Seems it would be an ideal location.
I doubt Lennar would tolerate cannabusiness south of G Street, since it may conflict with home sales. North of G Street is out for RFP to develop 157 acres, so it is possible that somebody would propose cannabusiness. However, the deep piles to bedrock for commercial activity may void such an effort. Whatever the case, I believe it is Better in Benicia all around for big money investment. We just need to staff up and drop the rope.
Johnny you may want to read the Sacramento Bee article on 3-21-18 by Brad Branan
Some good ideas for prospective MJ business models:
https://bit.ly/2HVb2B1
Another good idea would be selling joints during the Christmas Tree lighting on First Street in December. Maybe the torch light parade on July 3.
That sounds like a remarkably stupid idea. A licence to sell outdoors at a public event would be a nightmare to put together at the current point in time. Also, users have little use for pre-rolled products when they aren’t able to use them on 1st street anyway. They may as well just buy dry herb and take it home, which is less work for everyone involved.
I like your comedy comment. That will set the pot folks free. Most are already a little ripe anyway.
You get me, Bob
Low bar.
Great idea matter. Glad you are coming around. Rave on!
We have a lot of visitors. They look for the clean and calmy environment of our loved town. And the drugs users are welcome to use it in their own homes… but how come are YOU allowing and PROMOTING the public use? The people walking with the children and the drug in the air? YOU ARE GIVING PERMISION TO KILL OUR LOVELY ENVIRONMENT …
People vomiting outside Rookies, drunkards needing medical assistance after hurting themselves, and easy to access alcohol to minors sure is clean and calmy.
Germanicus I am with you on most of what you say. The City Council is not promoting PUBLIC use. There are some who comment it appears they are promoting PUBLIC use even thou they know it is illegal. They are doing everything they can to over ride the non Cannabis stores on First Street. They will also be promoting ,candidates for City Council that agree with their political agenda. They will also use the new group in town that represents Socialist Progressives. They will not like me using the term Socialist. I have no other word for these Bernie, Warren followers. My reply to Matter was I think he was joking and I liked his comedy approach. I do not advocate PUBLIC use of Cannabis. It is against the law.
I see a new way to market our lovely town:
“Benicia … the Garberville of Solano”
Tie Dye shirts in the park, bongs selling during peddler fair, and think of the possibilities of new booths at farmers market! I should probably set up a Doritos booth…
The new federal budget continues to deny funding for DOJ to mess with legal states. This is a bi-partisan support that surely will spark rage in local prunehearts and whiskey-sippin’ hypocrites.
Think light beer, instead.
Hey! You can slam the anti Pot crowd for being Prohibitionists …. but leave my whiskey alone! Them are fightin’ words!
Davis has an election in June for two council seats. They are using an online forum to help voters decide who to vote for. Elections from here on out will be decided by engaging social media and online discussions about relevant topics. What is interesting in the Davis forums is that there is NO mention whatsoever about regulated cannabis as they have already normalized it. We are a bit behind Davis, but coming around quickly. If you missed the boat this year, there will be another one in 2020.
https://tinyurl.com/ybvz9u9b
Here’s more bad news for rejector candidates, another angle on the benefits of regulated cannabis, courtesy of JAMA.
https://tinyurl.com/y865n8vz
“(Rejector) just said NO! to Benicia patients, pets, seniors, vets, and Rx opioid consumers.”
Is that you, neighbor?
Not bad news Stan. IT IS VERY CLEAR WHAT THE RESIDENTS WANT. There ARE APPROVED TWO RECREATIONAL CANNABIS STORES APPROVED FOR Benicia. JUST ,WHERE AND WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO OPEN?