Pubdate: Fri, 06 Aug 2010 Source: Times-Standard (Eureka, CA) Copyright: 2010 Times-Standard Contact: http://www.times-standard.com/writeus Website: http://www.times-standard.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1051 Author: Donna Tam Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/Dispensaries PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVES NEW MYRTLETOWN MARIJUANA DISPENSARY, TAKES PUBLIC COMMENT ON RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE On the heels of the county winning a case to shut down a medical marijuana dispensary operating in Myrtletown, the Humboldt County Planning Commission approved another dispensary planning to open nearby. The commission unanimously approved the conditional use permit for the Humboldt County Collective on Tuesday night, despite some hesitation. The Humboldt County Collective plans to open its doors at 1670 B Myrtle Avenue, just outside the Eureka city limits in a small shopping center on Myrtle Avenue. The county won a case last week against the Hummingbird Healing Center (HHC), located in the same complex, for operating without a conditional use permit. The HHC has filed an appeal. Commissioner Denver Nelson questioned approving a conditional use permit for the collective when the county has yet to create an ordinance to regulate marijuana dispensaries. He pointed to the city of Eureka, which placed a moratorium on dispensary applications until an ordinance is approved. Arcata has also done the same. "It seems to me we're putting the cart before the horse," Nelson said early in the meeting. The commission ended up approving the permit with additional conditions, including that the dispensary amend its operations to follow any new ordinances or laws that are created, and come back in one year for review by the commission. Nelson had requested extra provisions be added to the permit's conditions -- including required lab testing, the addition of a 2 percent tax, adding an indemnity agreement to relieve the county of any liability associated with the dispensary, and prohibiting the sale of marijuana to those under the age of 21 -- but was told by staff that his requests were either redundant or, in the case of the tax, not within the commission's authority. The applicant said the dispensary's operations and business practices already included many of those provisions. "I feel like I've gone above and beyond to really try to make this happen the right way," applicant Bill Byron said. The planning commission also took public comment on the proposed Ridgewood Village's draft environmental impact report (EIR). The Cutten subdivision would start with 249 residential units spread across about 75 acres in the Ridgewood Heights/Cutten area, and grow to about 1,440 units. Dozens of neighboring residents have opposed the project, citing quality of life, public safety, traffic and economic development concerns -- including the cost of mitigation measures. The commissioners requested more information from staff regarding fire protection services, traffic and mitigation costs. The matter is continued to Sept. 2. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom