Sacramento Planning Commission Meeting – June 24, 2021
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Sacramento Planning and Design Commission Meeting – June 24, 2021
The Sacramento Planning and Design Commission met on June 24, 2021, at 5:30 p.m. to consider five agenda items, including a consent calendar, two citywide code amendments, and a land-use study for cannabis in Council District 2. The meeting featured extensive public testimony, particularly on the cannabis item, and resulted in approvals on two items and a forwarded recommendation to City Council on the cannabis ordinance.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1 – Approval of Minutes (June 10, 2021): Approved unanimously. Commissioners Buckley and Hernandez abstained as they were absent for that meeting.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 5 – Cannabis in District 2: Over 20 callers testified. Supporters (primarily residents of District 2) argued that the area has been overburdened with cannabis businesses, requested caps and buffers, and stated that the community had been fighting for years. Opponents (including core program participants, NAACP representatives, and business owners) argued that the proposed buffers (1,000 ft from residential, 1,500 ft from schools/parks/churches) would effectively ban cannabis in D2, disproportionately harm equity entrepreneurs, and constitute redlining. Many requested that pending pipeline projects be exempted.
Discussion Items
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Item 3 – Drive-Through Restaurants Ordinance (M21-003): Staff presented an ordinance adding a City Council call-up provision for drive-through conditional use permits, similar to the cannabis call-up process. Commissioners discussed potential conflicts with the existing 10-day appeal period but ultimately voted unanimously to recommend approval. (Motion by Commissioner Lindsey, seconded by Commissioner Chase; passed 9-0.)
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Item 4 – Massage Therapy as a Home Occupation (M21-004): Staff proposed allowing massage therapists to provide services in their homes via a home occupation permit. The Sacramento Police Department expressed concerns about enforcement and worker safety. After discussion, Commissioner Wong Connolly made a motion to reject the amendment; it failed (4-6). A substitute motion to approve also failed (2-8). The item will still proceed to the City Council without a commission recommendation.
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Item 5 – Cannabis Land Use Study and Ordinance for District 2 (M21-005): Staff presented a study showing 1.3 million sq. ft. of cannabis production and 29 approved dispensaries in D2, proposing buffers of 1,000 ft from residential zones and 1,500 ft from schools, parks, and places of worship. Commissioners debated the merits of district-specific rules versus a citywide approach, and the impact on equity applicants. After lengthy public comment, Commissioner Wallace moved to forward the ordinance to City Council with the following amendments: exempt all pending pipeline projects, analyze citywide square footage and cost, consider both buffers and caps, enforce core program incentives, and recommend that the Council hold BOP approvals until 50% equity participation is achieved. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Masias Reed and passed 9-1 (Vice Chair Pluckybaum dissenting).
Key Outcomes
- Item 3: Approved to forward to City Council with a recommendation of approval. (Motion passed 9-0.)
- Item 4: No recommendation from the Commission; the item will proceed to City Council regardless. (Both motions to approve and reject failed.)
- Item 5: Motion to forward the ordinance to City Council with amendments passed 9-1. The Commission recommended that pipeline projects be exempt, that the city evaluate citywide land-use policies, and that the Council consider holding BOPs for equity participants. The Council will make the final decision.
- Director’s Report: No items presented.
- Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:50 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for July 22, 2021.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, that's 30 seconds. You can start any time. Thank you. Well, good evening, everyone. Welcome to the June 24th, 2021 City of Sacramento Planning and Design Commission hearing. For city staff, commissioners, and applicants that are logged in to the meeting, please remember to keep your microphones muted until you are speaking. For members of the public that are joining the meeting, in addition to submitting e-comments, you have the option to phone in during the public comment period. Stacia will share her screen now to display both of those options. Comments that are submitted through email or e-comments before 5 p.m. today have been received by city staff and are available for commissioners to review. If you would like to give any e-comment during the meeting, please do so. E comments posted after 5 p.m. today will be pulled up and we will take a moment to review them. If you're calling in to comment on an item, please refer to that instructions on the screen. After you dial in, you will be prompted to select a hearing item number to move into that item's queue. You can call in at any time before or during the public comment period for that item, and you will be placed on hold until it is your turn to speak. Once you call in, please keep in mind it may take a minute or so to move you into the queue. Okay, with that, we will move on to the agenda. At this point, we have no agenda changes, it's all as planned. And so, Commissioners, if you could unmute your mics and we'll call the roll. Okay. Commissioner Buckley. Commissioner Chase. Here. Commissioner Hernandez. Is here. Commissioner Lenzi. Here. Commissioner Masias Reid. Here. Commissioner Ogilvie is absent this evening. Commissioner Wallace. Commissioner Wonconnelly. Commissioner Yi. Here. Commissioner Young is also absent this evening. Commissioner Boyd is absent. Vice Chair Pluckybaugh. Here. Chair Coville. Here. You have a quorum. Thank you very much. So we will move on to the consent calendar. Uh looking for approval of the minutes. I'll make a motion, Chair, to move the minutes. Thank you from Commissioner Messias Reed. And Commissioner Yee seconds it. Any other comments on the minutes? Seeing none, we'll call for the vote.
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