Huntington Beach planning commissioners on Tuesday will discuss a possible ban on recreational marijuana businesses. (File photo | Los Angeles Times)
The fate of recreational marijuana in Huntington Beach will be a focus for the Planning Commission on Tuesday as it considers a zoning amendment that would prohibit the sale or distribution of non-medical marijuana by businesses in the city. It also would regulate the cultivation of non-medical marijuana.
City staff is recommending commission approval of the amendment. If that happens, the amendment will go to the City Council for possible adoption.
Proposition 64 was passed statewide in November, allowing people 21 and older to use and cultivate non-medical marijuana, with stipulations granting local governments the ability to ban non-medical marijuana businesses and regulate cultivation.
During a July 11 study session, the commission asked city staff a variety of related questions. One of the issues discussed was the community need for a ban. According to the Police Department, non-medical marijuana businesses and deliveries could result in negative effects such as robberies, thefts and burglaries, a staff report states.
The department says other cities that have non-medical marijuana businesses have seen increases in DUI arrests, according to the report.
Proposed marina
A proposed marina in Huntington Harbour once denied by the Planning Commission and City Council over potential environmental issues also will be considered by the commission Tuesday.
The project includes a public marina at 16926 Park Ave. with a 66-foot community docking area, a floating pedestrian ramp and a two-story building with an office, public restroom and a caretaker’s unit totaling 1,328 square feet, according to city documents.
The project needs an authorized conditional use permit, coastal development permit and recirculated mitigated negative declaration, which analyzes the environmental impacts associated with the marina.
A larger form of the project was denied in 2007 by the commission and council. The commission cited a host of issues, including evidence that there would be a significant effect on the environment and a detrimental impact on people working or living nearby, the documents say.
An environmental analysis has concluded that the revised project would not pose significant environmental issues with incorporation of relevant mitigation measures, the documents say.
Environmental analysis for general plan update
The commission will continue its review of the environmental impact report for the city’s general plan update, which will guide local development decisions through 2040.
The draft looks at potential adverse effects to the environment as part of the implementation of the general plan update. It delves into air quality, biological and cultural resources and noise, among other issues.
At the meeting, the commission will be provided with an overview of a sea level rise vulnerability assessment.
According to a city staff report, most of the problems in areas that could be negatively affected in the general plan update can be mitigated through proposed policies in the plan. But there are changes that would impact air quality, cultural resources, the water supply, noise and greenhouse gas emissions deemed “significant and unavoidable,” the report says.
The public can review a draft of the report at hbthenextwave.org/documents.
The commission’s public hearing for the EIR is slated for Aug. 15.
Link – LA Times
