The Thousand Palms Board of Supervisors gave their unanimous approval to a cannabis retail outlet in the unincorporated Thousand Palms on Tuesday, marking the board’s second approval of a dispensary in the area since June.
According to the Riverside County Transportation & Land Management Agency, the distribution facility will be housed in an existing 7,734-square-foot building near Adelaid and Front streets.
Although the entire building will be rebuilt as part of the project agreement with the county, the owner, EEL, claims that just roughly 1,800 square feet will be used.
The location will offer on-site cannabis sales and a mobile delivery service, which will operate from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day, according to TLMA.
Thomas Black, a resident of the community, complained to TLMA in a letter that the dispensary will be located in an area with limited law enforcement, raising security concerns.
Security guards would be on-site during operating hours, while a camera monitoring system and burglary alarm would be in use at all other times, according to EEL executives.
Supervisor Manuel Perez, whose Fourth District includes Thousand Palms, said EEL has addressed his and others’ concerns.
The supervisor stated, “I appreciate this project.”
EEL will be expected to pay $33,672 in first-year public benefits to the county under the 10-year conditional use permit and development agreement. A $75,000 annual payment, which will increase by 3% each year, will also be due,.
On April 21, the Planning Commission unanimously approved the proposal and referred it to the Board of Directors for final approval.
The board of directors approved a cannabis retail and manufacturing outlet on Watt Court on June 15, just around the corner from the Coachella Valley Animal Campus and less than a mile from EEL’s location.
In unincorporated Bermuda Dunes, Corona, Green Acres, Highgrove, Lakeland Village, Mead Valley, and Temescal Valley, the board previously approved dispensaries and manufacturing operations.
The county’s 2018 Marijuana Comprehensive Regulatory Framework, codified under Ordinance No. 348, lays out the processes that prospective marijuana businesses must take in order to be considered for licenses. The regulatory requirements include safety and health protections.
So far, the board has only permitted indoor marijuana manufacturing and distribution outlets in unincorporated communities, not outdoor commercial cannabis crops.
Original article: https://nbcpalmsprings.com/2021/08/17/supervisors-approve-cannabis-dispensary-in-thousand-palms/
