Honorable Supervisors Gjerde, Mulheren, Haschak, McGourty, Williams, and to whom this may concern,
Thank you for your commitment to the difficult task of drafting an ordinance that works for the people, the farmers, the innovators, and the entrepreneurs of Mendocino County. I am aware that a well-written cannabis ordinance will foster welcome economic growth and can make Mendocino thrive. I am not opposed to cultivation but oppose a regulation that does not yet represent the wishes and best interest of the people.
As a member of the Redwood Valley Municipal Advisory Council, I have been informed of diverse opinions and wishes from residents in this community however, this letter represents only my views as an informed, private citizen.
I want to refer to the memo from Supervisor Glenn McGourty to Chairman Dan Gjerde of April 18, 2021, with ten essential points that aim to conserve and protect the integrity of the county. Supervisor McGourty created this memo with information dutifully gathered from his constituents and presented it before you as a set of valuable guidelines.
The most egregious expansion guideline in the ordinance as it came back from the Planning and Building Commission is the allocation of ‘mixed-light cultivation’ or hoop houses of up to 22,000 square feet on AG land. In his 6th guideline, McGourty supports sun-grown cannabis only, “no greenhouses, no hoop houses or other growing structures would be permitted. A small (maximum 1000 square foot) structure would be allowed to propagate or harden off seedlings and starts.”
Additionally, the conversation about hoop houses, their size, and their application in the cultivation process never took place publicly but somehow found its way back in the ordinance without getting a fair hearing.
I request that you listen to the public now and find out if mixed-light cultivation of cannabis in hoop houses serves the best interest of the people of Mendocino County or instead benefits the maximum annual yield of commercial interest groups. We need time to carefully consider the unintended consequences of increased cannabis production from one sun-grown annual crop to three or four in ‘mixed-light cultivation’ (aka hoop houses) on AG zoned land, especially in our unincorporated communities where Rural Residential and Ag zoned parcels are interspersed.
It is my sincere hope that we can build this ordinance better together.
Honorable Supervisors Gjerde, Mulheren, Haschak, McGourty, Williams, and to whom this may concern,
Thank you for your commitment to the difficult task of drafting an ordinance that works for the people, the farmers, the innovators, and the entrepreneurs of Mendocino County. I am aware that a well-written cannabis ordinance will foster welcome economic growth and can make Mendocino thrive. I am not opposed to cultivation but oppose a regulation that does not yet represent the wishes and best interest of the people.
As a member of the Redwood Valley Municipal Advisory Council, I have been informed of diverse opinions and wishes from residents in this community however, this letter represents only my views as an informed, private citizen.
I want to refer to the memo from Supervisor Glenn McGourty to Chairman Dan Gjerde of April 18, 2021, with ten essential points that aim to conserve and protect the integrity of the county. Supervisor McGourty created this memo with information dutifully gathered from his constituents and presented it before you as a set of valuable guidelines.
The most egregious expansion guideline in the ordinance as it came back from the Planning and Building Commission is the allocation of ‘mixed-light cultivation’ or hoop houses of up to 22,000 square feet on AG land. In his 6th guideline, McGourty supports sun-grown cannabis only, “no greenhouses, no hoop houses or other growing structures would be permitted. A small (maximum 1000 square foot) structure would be allowed to propagate or harden off seedlings and starts.”
Additionally, the conversation about hoop houses, their size, and their application in the cultivation process never took place publicly but somehow found its way back in the ordinance without getting a fair hearing.
I request that you listen to the public now and find out if mixed-light cultivation of cannabis in hoop houses serves the best interest of the people of Mendocino County or instead benefits the maximum annual yield of commercial interest groups. We need time to carefully consider the unintended consequences of increased cannabis production from one sun-grown annual crop to three or four in ‘mixed-light cultivation’ (aka hoop houses) on AG zoned land, especially in our unincorporated communities where Rural Residential and Ag zoned parcels are interspersed.
It is my sincere hope that we can build this ordinance better together.
Respectfully yours,
Patricia/Pien Ris-Yarbrough
Redwood Valley