Galt Planning Commission OKs marijuana ordinance
Recommendations to bring city into compliance with Prop. 64 must go before city council
GALT — The Galt Planning Commission will recommend to the City Council that it amend its municipal code regarding the cultivation of marijuana to containers no greater than 25 gallons or six plants per parcel, whether inside or outside.
If approved by the council, likely at its next meeting on May 7, residents will be allowed to grow both inside a private residence and an enclosed accessory structure for personal use only.
The action is necessary to comply with Proposition 64 passed by California voters in November.
The city currently bans all cultivation, and in December, further adopted a temporary moratorium on all commercial cannabis land uses in the city and on all cannabis cultivation in the city while evaluating appropriate land uses and reasonable regulations.
Last month, the planning commission made a recommendation to the council to allow indoor cultivation in some situations, but the council disagreed with staff ’s recommendation and provided direction to proceed without a cultivation permit requirement. The new rules were discussed at last Thursday’s Planning Commission meeting.
Under the new ordinance, growers would also be require to obtain landlord or property owner permission to cultivate cannabis for personal use. It would not be permitted on properties used for daycare, youth center or group homes, or performed by anyone under the age of 21.
Cultivation lighting will also be limited to 1,200 watts and performed inside a private residence so long as there is still a functional kitchen, bathroom and bedroom facilities so that the residence may not be used primarily for marijuana cultivation.
Other cities in the region have enacted, or are in the process of enacting, ordinances pertaining to cannabis cultivation, including the City of Lodi, which prohibits outdoor cultivation and allows indoor cultivation in the both the primary and enclosed accessory. It does not require a cultivation permit, according to Planning Department staff.
The City of Elk Grove, too, is proposing an ordinance that prohibits outdoor cultivation and allows indoor cultivation in the both the primary and in an enclosed accessory structure without a cultivation permit, while the City of Rancho Cordova also prohibits outdoor cultivation and allows indoor cultivation in the both the primary and enclosed accessory structure. However, Rancho Cordova requires cultivation permit.