Commercial cannabis sales and other related businesses approved for Meyers

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved on May 12 an amendment to their ordinance for the retail sale, commercial distribution, and commercial indoor cultivation of recreational adult-use cannabis as it pertains to the Meyers community.

Originally, no zoning in Meyers qualified for these activities as their Area Plan zoning didn't match up with the approved areas for El Dorado County's legal activities could fit.

The vote of the supervisors added two Meyers Area Plan zoning districts. Sales can be conducted in the Meyers Community Center District and all of the other approved activities may take place in the Meyers Industrial area (in purple on the map).

Their vote also eliminated the 500-foot separation to a residential zoning district in Meyers for uses in the Meyers Community Center District, due to the mixed-use nature of the parcel structure in Meyers where residences are in close proximity to commercial land uses.

The amendment will allow for one additional retail storefront within the Meyers Area Plan boundary and it will not have to be included in the county-wide allocations of permits.

A commercial cannabis activity cannot be located within 1,500 feet from any school, school bus stop, place of worship, park, playground, child care center, youth-oriented facility, pre-school, public library, licensed drug or alcohol recovery facility, or licensed sober living facility.

With the exception of the Meyers Community Center (red MAP-1 above) zoning district, a commercial cannabis activity cannot be established on any parcel containing a dwelling unit used as a residence or within 500 feet of a residential zoning district.

The distance is measured from the nearest point of the property line of the premises that contains the commercial cannabis activity to the nearest point of the property line of the enumerated use using direct straight-line measurement.

For the Meyers Community Center (red MAP-1 above) zoning district, proximity to a residence will be evaluated to determine the compatibility of the proposed use. A new adjacent use does not affect the continuation of an existing use previously permitted.

For the full ordinance, visit HERE. Applications and involved fees can be found HERE.

During the meeting, one emailed comment stated they felt the changes will provide legal alternatives to those in Meyers currently involved in the illegal market.