[Neighbors] Cannabis retail conditional use request

[bill ashford]

As a Nobhill resident near this location I OPPOSE the approval of conditional use for marijuana retail at 4012 Central SE.  This location is literally right next door to the existing R Green Leaf Rec/Med cannabis store.  This is zero feet of separation when the ordinance requires 600 feet.  4012 Central is NOT an empty store front,  is is an existing operational business so allowing conditional use will NOT fill and empty storefront.  It creates a cluster of cannabis businesses.  I realize cannabis retail is a very profitable business and generates tax dollars for the city and state but this does not warrant clusters of cannabis stores lining Central Ave in Nob Hill.

The IDO ordinance making cannabis impermissible at this location stems from the June 17th, 2021 Council amendment B12 – “Cannabis Retail 600 ft separation”.  The specific city intent (attached) was “This amendment seeks to strike a balance between the economic development opportunities that recreational cannabis offers, while still ensuring that no area or areas, have significant clusters of businesses.”.  Allowing Conditional Use to sell recreational cannabis at 4012 Central does nothing to help “strike a balance” as intended by the city council,  instead it creates a cluster which is exactly what the separation is intended to prevent.

Frankly the current IDO separation of 600 ft doesn’t make sense when compared to the 1000 feet required between nicotine retail and zero feet makes even less sense.  A conditional use for nicotine retail closer then 1000 feet is NOT specified in the IDO, as such conditional use for cannabis retail closer then 600 feet makes even less sense.

The recreational cannabis retail community along Central is very new,  it is has only been legal for a few months.  The city should allow it to continue to develop within the parameters of the IDO BEFORE it makes special exceptions.

Approval for conditional use sets an undesirable precedent for clustered cannabis retail.  It does not comply with the intent of the IDO or the will of many nearby neighbors and should not be approved.

-Bill Ashford
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