Redefining Organics gets go ahead for cannabis business from Planning Commission

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The first cannabis business to be created after the passage of an ordinance approved by the South Lake Tahoe City Council passed a big hurdle Thursday. The South Lake Tahoe Planning Commission voted 5-0 to approved the cannabis use permit application for Redefining Organics, LLC and recommended to the City Council they approve the required development agreement.

They also recommended to Council they have both a first and second reading of the development agreement at their October 1 City Council Meeting.

Redefining Organics, LLC has applied to operate a 12,060 sq. ft. microbusiness (cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution) warehouse at 1090 Industrial Avenue between Tahoe Asphalt and Stor Mor Storage. It also backs to US Forrest Service

There will be no sales out of this location and delivery trucks will have to follow the State of California's stringent guidelines an enter enclosed areas not visible or accessible to the public. There will also be security systems installed and a security guard on location once opened.

Two people attended the Planning Commission meeting to voice their concern about a cannabis business going in their area. The storage company said they already have a problem in the area with homeless, breakins and people living in their cars on the street. They were concerned with traffic and smell, both things Oliver Starr, co-owner of Redefining Organics, LLC told them they wouldn't have to worry about.

Redefining Organics proposes to cultivate utilizing 10,000 sq. ft. of floor area to be vertically integrated. The manufacturing and non-volatile extraction are
intended to operate a state-of-the-art extraction, infusion, and packaging facility capable of producing high-quality extracts, fractionally distilled concentrates and edibles. Redefining Organics has also allocated significant floor space to a distribution business and intends to offer distribution services both within our municipality as well as the greater surrounding region.

Redefining Organics, LLC proposed business model will create more than 25 new jobs, paying a minimum of $15.00 per hour. Benefits will be provided to full-time employees and they intend to implement employee advancement and continuing education plans to provide opportunities for upward mobility within the organization. Their hiring plan incorporates a strong focus on reaching underserved prospects within the community, particularly older adults who might be under-employed.

Their development agreement details the following:

Redefining Organics, LLC., expressed a commitment to volunteering six percent of gross profits to be shared with the city. Redefining Organics has also pledged one percent of net revenue per year for distribution amongst one or more local non-profit organizations. Additionally, every employee will be allocated four hours per month of paid time off for volunteering at the non-profit of the employees choice. This could equate to 1,200 additional hours of volunteer service is spread throughout the entire community each year.

Distribution, cultivation and extraction operations will commence upon state licensure. Full deployment of the operational plan including cultivation, extractions and manufacturing will occur within less than 120 days from the signing of a development agreement with the city.

Stone said he was thrilled with the Planning Commission's decision. If the City Council approves the development agreement, Redefining Organics could be open in January 2020. He still has to secure State licenses.

On February 5, 2019, the City Council established the application requirements and procedures for operating a cannabis business and development agreement.

The Development Services Department accepted applications between March 11 and April 5 of this year and 21 businesses applied for the City's cultivation, microbusiness, and retail licenses. They then reviewed the applications for completeness and sent all 21 to the Evaluation Scoring Committee for their review and scoring.

On June 7 the City issued the cannabis business application scores for each category (Cultivation, Microbusinesses and Retail). Immediately thereafter, the City received appeals from three retail applicants. During the appeal process, the hearing officer found no basis for the appeal and denied each one.

There were no appeals for the other two license types.