DATE: February 19, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Development Services Department
TITLE: PROPOSED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STOREFRONT CANNABIS RETAIL (TYPE 10) LICENSING PROGRAM
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends the City Council provide staff direction on the proposed framework for a storefront cannabis retail license ("Type 10") program.
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The following table summarizes staff's recommendations regarding implementation of the proposed storefront cannabis program.
TABLE 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS
TOPIC
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Number of Licenses
A. Open two competitive Type 10 storefront retail licenses to the public.
B. Offer one Type 10 storefront retail license to the City's existing Type 9 (non-storefront/delivery) cannabis business operator, provided that operator meets "minimum qualifications" of the evaluation criteria (thereby creating a potential maximum of three Type 10 storefront retail licenses).
C. Eliminate the existing vacant Type 9 (non-storefront/delivery) license.
2. Zoning
A. Expand allowable districts beyond staff's initially recommended General Commercial (CG), Special Commercial Highway Oriented (CS-HO), Limited Industrial (IL), and General Industrial (IG) districts to also include the following: Neighborhood Commercial (CN), Community Commercial (CC), Limited Commercial (CL), and Special Commercial Limited (CS-L) districts. Remove the Mission Ave and Oceanside Boulevard corridors restriction.
B. Preclude storefronts in the Downtown District and Coastal Zone.
C. Restrict storefronts in the Mission San Luis Rey commercial village core as opposed to the entire Mission Historic District.
3. Evaluation Criteria
A. Provide preference to existing licensed cannabis operators.
B. Score applications based on three, equal point sections: 1.) Business and Employment Plan; 2.) Community and Employee Benefits; and 3.) Location.
4. Local License Awarding Process
A. Utilize a weighted/tiered...
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