On Tuesday, the Brentwood City Council will be asked to support a resolution to oppose the expansion of Commercial Cannabis in the City of Antioch.
As part of the Tuesdays action, the council will also be asked to appoint two members to represent the City at Antioch Public Meetings where the expansion of cannabis operations are being considered.
According to the Staff Report, the City of Antioch has drafted changes to their zoning ordinance that would allow cannabis businesses in areas in close proximity to Brentwood residential areas and would allow distribution and delivery activities. The Antioch Planning Commission has opened a public hearing on these changes; as of the writing of this Staff report, that hearing has been continued. It is expected that the proposed changes will be presented to the Antioch City Council this fall.
Brentwood appears focused on areas of CB5 and CB 6 (see graphic)
According to the Antioch Planning commission Report, it highlights its summary of zoning District changes which includes:
CB Cannabis Business Overlay District
- CB 1 The area designated as the Cannabis Business Overlay District prior to
April 22, 2021. CB 1 allows the broadest range of cannabis businesses. - CB 2 Downtown Antioch- the area designated as Mixed Use within the
Downtown Specific Plan CB 2 allows storefront retail only. - CB 3 Northwest Downtown/Marina- the area bounded by 4th St., BNSF rail line,
and L St. CB 3 allows most types of cannabis businesses, excluding retail. - CB 4 Somersville District—the area bounded by Buchanan Rd., Delta Fair Blvd.,
and Fairview Dr. CB 4 allows storefront retail only. - CB 5 Slatten Ranch Business Park —the area bounded by Wicklow Way to the
south, Laurel Road, Empire Ave., and Highway 4 CB 5 allows most types of cannabis businesses, excluding retail. - CB 6 Slatten Ranch/Empire Center — the area bounded by Lone Tree Way,
Wicklow Way to the north, Empire Ave., and Highway 4 CB 6 allows storefront retail only.
The City of Brentwood does not allow any commercial cannabis activity within city limits which include marijuana cultivation, dispensaries and deliveries within the City of Brentwood.
The staff report highlights the following:
The City of Antioch staff have proposed a significant expansion of commercial cannabis
activities within Antioch. The Antioch staff report is attached. The changes of greatest concern
to Brentwood are:
- The proposed allowance of most types of cannabis commercial activities, except
store front retail, in the Slatten Ranch Business Park (bounded by Wicklow Way,
Laurel Road, Empire Avenue, and Highway 4). This area is directly adjacent to
residential areas in Brentwood. - The proposed allowance of storefront retail in the Slatten Ranch/Empire Center
(bounded by Lone Tree Way, Wicklow Way, Empire Avenue, and Highway 4). This
area is directly adjacent to residential properties in Brentwood. - The ordinance provides no buffer between cannabis operations and Brentwood
residential, park, or church properties. The ordinance does require a 600-foot buffer
between the property where commercial cannabis is located and Antioch residential
property, but specifically excludes this modest protection from Brentwood residential
properties or other uses as described above. In addition, while Antioch requires a
buffer between cannabis operations and (1) schools, and (2) child care centers,
nothing in the proposed language expressly provides that the City of Antioch will
apply this buffer requirement to schools or child care centers located across the
border in Brentwood. - The ordinance allows cannabis distribution and delivery activities. These activities
would be likely to provide cannabis sales to Brentwood, particularly if located directly
adjacent to The proposed ordinance calls for these uses to be
“discouraged,” yet they are allowed through the proposed changes. The tacit
admission that these uses are problematic at the same time they are being allowed
by the changes is particularly troubling.
Brentwood says this expansion of cannabis related uses may impact the public safety of Brentwood, impact Brentwood property values, and hamper Brentwood economic development activities.’
Staff recommends that the City Council request rejection of Antioch’s proposed commercial
cannabis operations changes, or at least have Antioch include amendments to protect
Brentwood residents, workers, and visitors.
The requested modifications would be:
- To require a 2,000-foot buffer between commercial cannabis operations and all
property with residential, school, park, day care, or church uses or land use
designations. This buffer must not exclude Brentwood area - To prohibit distribution and delivery of cannabis products, instead of simply
Brentwood also said there will be no direct fiscal impact on Tuesday action. However, if the cannabis uses are expanded in Antioch, there could be significant but unknown impacts on public safety
resources and a possible reduction of tax revenue due to the potential for impaired property
values and degraded economic development.
Brentwood City Council Meeting
August 24, 2021
7:00 pm
Agenda: http://brentwoodca.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=2618&Inline=True
Public comments
Can also be submitted via e-mail to [email protected]. Any public comments received up until 3:00 p.m. of the meeting date will be:
- distributed to the Council via email before the meeting,
- posted online for public inspection at https://www.brentwoodca.gov/councilmeetingonline , and
- later summarized in the meeting minutes.
