Humboldt Planning Commission approves Shep Crews cannabis permit in 4-1 vote

The Humboldt County Planning Commission approved the Shep Crews Family Farms conditional use permit in a 4-1 vote Aug. 20, allowing a project near Wilder Ridge Road in the Whitethorn area with 22,035 square feet of existing outdoor cannabis cultivation and 2,200 square feet of propagation space.

Commissioner Peggy O’Neill voted against the permit; Commissioners Noah Levy, Sarah West, Jerome Qiriazi and Todd Fulton voted in favor, according to the commission meeting record.

The Aug. 20 agenda identifies the project as record PLN-12034-CUP. It says irrigation water will come from an approved groundwater well, with estimated annual use of 250,000 gallons, and that the project includes two harvests using light-deprivation techniques. The agenda also lists 23,150 gallons of existing hard-tank storage and says two seasonal employees are proposed.

Planning staff said the approval conditions include finalizing a streambed-alteration agreement with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, updating information related to two diversions, maintaining three culverts and increasing water storage to as much as 60,000 gallons over two years. Staff also said cultivation would be outside riparian areas with at least a 100-foot setback.

During public comment, neighbor Rob Grinchfield questioned the well’s location and whether the project’s water use could affect nearby waterways. He also raised concerns about noise, activity from other cannabis operations in the Wilder Ridge Road area, and the project’s proposed staffing. Those comments were statements to the commission and were not established as findings in the meeting record.

Commissioners discussed the water and cumulative impacts raised in the hearing. Staff said the county had not received recent complaints tied to the area and that it could be difficult to attribute broader activity to this particular property. The commission then adopted staff’s recommended findings that the project complied with the county’s General Plan and zoning ordinance and approved the permit subject to its conditions.