City of Petaluma Cannabis Ordinance to Allow up to Three Cannabis Storefront Retailers
Summary
SCH Number
2024070501
Public Agency
City of Petaluma
Document Title
City of Petaluma Cannabis Ordinance to Allow up to Three Cannabis Storefront Retailers
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/12/2024
Document Description
The City of Petaluma's Cannabis Ordinance amends Table 4.4 and Chapter 28 "Glossary" of the Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance to make on-site retail cannabis sales in up to three locations in Commercial I, Commercial 2, Business Park and Industrial zones a permitted land use, subject to applicable buffer zones, relocate the City's cannabis regulations in Chapter 10.15 of the Municipal Code to a new Chapter 6.10 of the Petaluma Municipal Code entitled "Cannabis," and continue in effect existing commercial cannabis regulations, and allow up to three retail storefront cannabis businesses in Commercial I, Commercial 2, Business Park, and Industrial Districts in Petaluma in accordance with the Implementing Zoning Ordinance. The project also adopts updated administrative regulations to help to ensure that nuisance conditions do not result from commercial cannabis activity in the community and include security requirements for each operator.
Contact Information
Name
Brian Oh
Agency Name
City of Petaluma Community Development Department
Job Title
CDD Director
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Petaluma
Counties
Sonoma
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
English Street and Western Avenue
Zip
94953
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Sec. 15183 (Consistency with General Plan)
Reasons for Exemption
The Project is exempt under Section 15183 as storefront retail cannabis uses have been determined to be similar to retail and service commercial uses that are already permitted to operate within areas designated as BP, I, Cl, ai1d C2 in the General Plan. Specifically, storefront cannabis retail is classified as both a retail and service commercial use as it includes the. sale of goods/merchandise (retail) as well as a customer service component (service commercial). Furthermore, adoption and implementation of the proposed amendments and associated Ordinance will not result in new or more severe impacts previously analyzed and disclosed in tl1e General Plan EIR.
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Sec. 21080: 15061(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
The Project, to amend the City of Petaluma Municipal Code and Implementing Zoning Ordinance to allow up to three cannabis storefront retailers in the City's Cl, C2, BP, and I, Zones is exempt pursuant to Section 1506l(b)(3) as there is no possibility that the proposed amendment to the City's Cannabis Ordinance will result in a significant effect on the environment as adoption of the Ordinance is limited to establishing regulations for storefront retail cannabis uses, and no specific businesses will be approved to operate as part of this action, There is also no possibility that implementation of the Ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment as future storefront retail cannabis businesses will be limited to three for the entire city and will be located on developed properties where similar retail and service commercial uses are already operating or permitted to operate.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Sec. 15301 (Existing Facilities), 15302 (Replacement), 15303 (New Construction)
Reasons for Exemption
The project is consistent with guiding principles, goals, policies, and programs of the General Plan. Lastly, the project is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to Sections 15301, 15302, and 15303 of the CEQA Guidelines, in that the proposed zoning amendments will allow commercial cannabis businesses with a City of Petaluma issued Commercial Cannabis Permit to: 1) re-tenant existing commercial and industrial facilities designed to support such uses; 2) replace, modify or otherwise reconstruct existing commercial and industrial facilities with a new structure of substantially the same size, purpose and capacity; and/or 3) construct new small structures including fences, gates, greenhouses, and small scale commercial and industrial facilities. There are no cumulative impacts, unusual circumstances or other factors that would make the exemption inapplicable.
County Clerk
Sonoma
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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