Page 36 - Sonoma County Gazette November 2018

On Tuesday, Nov. 13, the Board of Supervisors is set to discuss and approve the county’s new onsite wastewater treatment system, or OWTS manual. The county was required to update its manual in order to conform with AB 885, which was signed into law in 2000, which provided new OWTS regulations. To be in accordance with new state law, the county had to submit a LAMP— or local area management plan—to the Regional Water Board, demonstrating compliance with the state’s OWTS policy. The update OWTS manual also has to be submitted to the Regional Board for approval. Once the new manual has been approved, the policy will take affect.
We currently have, in our cannabis ordinance, a 1,000 foot property line setback from parks. The spirit of this rule is designed to keep cannabis cultivation away from public uses, with the idea that families and residents of all ages have a right to enjoy public property without being exposed to cannabis cultivation and any offsite impacts that might arise from it.
Sonoma County residents will not have to comply with new regulations unless they are applying for a new building permit or any type of septic permit. Find more about the new regulations at sonomacounty.ca.gov/prmd/ regulatiosn/owts.
At the Board of Supervisors meeting on Oct. 16, I requested that my colleagues on the Board support me in directing staff to bring back an ordinance that would safeguard our precious trail network. The majority of the board supported my request. I also proposed a moratorium on cannabis cultivation applications adjacent to trails to allow us time to vet this issue and develop an ordinance to address our concerns. Finally, I will work as a member of the Cannabis Ad Hoc with County staff to figure out the best way to move an ordinance and possible moratorium forward.
Let’s talk cannabis...
In the middle of October, our office learned of a use permit application
for a proposed cannabis cultivation site on Railroad Street in Graton. The Board of Supervisors, during a public hearing on amendments to the county’s cannabis ordinance, heard from a lot of concerned Graton neighbors and surrounding community members about this particular application. Concerns ranged from proposed size of the site, to location next to the West County Trail and incompatibility with the area’s open meadows.
Please also note that the County’s Right to Farm ordinance does not apply to cannabis cultivation; cannabis cultivation is considered a new, non- agricultural land use, and as such, impacts on adjacent property uses will be taken into careful consideration.
It is important to note that the application is in the very early phase of the use permit application process. At this early phase, a staff recommendation has not been issued, nor will it be issued until the public has time to provide input on the project.
Happy November! Between municipal advisory councils, housing meetings, ever-changing septic policies and more, we’re looking to be very busy. Here’s what to expect in November:
Septic updates
I understand and appreciate every concern. While I cannot take a formal position for or against a project that might ultimately come before the Board of Supervisors—doing so is illegal and would demonstrate prejudice at a future hearing—please know that, as a matter of policy, I am personally concerned about any cannabis operation in such close proximity to the West County Trail, which is part of our Regional Parks network.
Unfortunately, I have learned that County staff chose to interpret the West County Trail as not being part of the Regional Parks park system, but rather a “mode of transportation.” To me, this is completely counterintuitive, and contrary to the intent of our ordinance... not to mention the public’s use of the trail.
OUR COUNTY cont’d on page 37
36 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 11/18