Antioch approves large-scale cannabis business at former Kmart store

The old Kmart store in Antioch soon will become the hub of a large-scale cannabis business that offers indoor cultivation, distribution, manufacturing and a dispensary.

The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a San Francisco-based company’s application to set up the operation inside the former 94,338-squarefoot Kmart at 3625 E. 18th St. in northeastern Antioch — one of the city’s two designated overlay districts where cannabis businesses are allowed.

Forrest Ebbs, Antioch’s community development director, said the company, Radix Growth, is expected to generate needed sales tax revenue for the city.

“This project is a fully vertically integrated cannabis operation that has the ability to greatly benefit the community,” Sufyan Hamouda, a compliance consultant for Radix Growth, told the council.

The company plans to conduct cultivation operations entirely indoors, with 87 flower rooms occupying a total of 95,430 square feet on two floors. Its nonvolatile manufacturing operation would occupy 7,785 square feet.

Because the property’s large parking lot extends to the street within 600 feet of a residential zone, the business will need a variance from the city, associate planner Kevin Scudero said.

Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock noted that although she doesn’t oppose the project, a new affordable housing complex and senior community are being built nearby and voters previously have objected to such variances.

“That is my concern that it’s within 600 feet because you have the AMCAL (housing) project right across the street,” she said. “… So at the time when I understood this project is going to come forth, I did not know that their property line went as far as it goes. So the 600-foot variance is a huge issue, especially for me.”

Although the property line is only 360 feet from the residential units, the proposed project site, in the back of a large parking lot, is more than 700 feet from where the cannabis operations will be conducted.

“And that’s kind of why we feel the findings are justified because the business, where the actual use is being conducted, is over 600 feet away,” Scudero said, noting the parking lot serves all businesses on site.

The only other business currently operating in the shopping center are a gas station and car wash; a fast-food restaurant long has been boarded up.

About 100 employees are expected to work at the new facility, which will operate seven days a week, with three shifts from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. A nursery area will be included for the propagation of immature cannabis plants specifically used for propagation and cultivation of cannabis.

The company said two armed guards will be assigned during business hours and one at night. Electronic security, controlled access areas and surveillance cameras also are planned.

Mayor Lamar Thorpe asked about the applicant’s experience and commitment to equity.

“I only asked those questions to distinguish whether you know you’re here for the long haul or you’re just a frontman for somebody else to try to, you know, make money on, on these licenses,” Thorpe said.

The applicant, Hans

Benson, said he has worked with cultivation and distribution facilities in Oakland and Mendocino and has partnered with other large-scale cannabis businesses.

“I intend to work closely with the city, in being able to develop somewhat of a program that will benefit not only the community but also the industry as well,”hesaid.