Less than two months into the new year, the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission has already had numerous discussions over possible amendments to the county’s cannabis ordinance. The county Board of Supervisors directed the commission to look at potential changes to existing regulations last year to address concerns over odor and the plant’s compatibility with […]
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Supervisors approve cannabis farm west of Buellton
Nearly a year after the Santa Barbara County Planning and Development Department approved plans for a cannabis farm on Highway 246 about a mile west of Buellton, the project has received a final stamp of approval from supervisors following a lengthy appeal process. The county Planning and Development Department first approved the plans for Busy […]
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Planning Commission pursuing stricter cannabis odor control
After spending numerous meetings over the last few months discussing possible changes to the county’s cannabis regulations, the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission made its first move toward pursuing stricter odor control requirements. Last July, the county Board of Supervisors directed staff to work with the county Planning Commission on various ordinance amendments to mitigate […]
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Planning Commission continues hearing over controversial cannabis project
During its meeting on April 7, the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission picked up a discussion it had started in early December 2019 over a cannabis operation in Cebada Canyon near Lompoc by a corporation called Herbal Angels. Despite not issuing permits for the project during this first discussion, commissioners praised some aspects of the […]
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Commission recommends more stringent permit process for cannabis cultivation
All cannabis cultivation projects in Santa Barbara County will face a more rigorous permitting process if supervisors back a recommendation the county Planning Commission made at a recent meeting. Last year, the county Board of Supervisors directed staff to work with the Planning Commission on potential changes to the county’s existing cannabis cultivation ordinances to […]
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Supervisors propose measures to tighten cannabis regulations
Cannabis farmers in Santa Barbara County could face additional hurdles if proposed changes to existing local regulations take effect. On June 11, the county Board of Supervisors held a hearing to discuss the county Planning Commission’s proposal to require all cannabis applicants obtain a conditional use permit, rather than a land use permit. Under existing […]
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County faces another lawsuit over Santa Ynez cannabis farm
A group of Santa Barbara County residents recently filed a second lawsuit over the county’s decision to approve another cannabis project in the Santa Ynez Valley. The county Board of Supervisors approved plans for West Coast Farms, the project at the center of this most recent lawsuit, during its April 21 meeting. This project is […]
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Planning Commission approves cannabis project on Williams Ranch
A cannabis project located about 2 miles west of Buellton is moving forward after the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission rejected an appeal filed by a nearby vineyard operator. Last August, John Wagner of Peake Ranch Winery appealed the county Planning Department’s decision to approve a land use permit for the Castlerock Family Farms cannabis […]
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Santa Barbara County releases environmental impact report for ExxonMobil trucking project
Santa Barbara County recently released an environmental analysis reviewing ExxonMobil’s proposal to transport oil on local roadways using tanker trucks so that it can resume the operation of three offshore oil rigs and a processing facility. The final supplemental environmental impact report the county made public on July 29 assesses ExxonMobil’s plans to move about […]
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Solvang may close Copenhagen Drive for the year
With the COVID-19 pandemic raging on, the Solvang City Council agreed that the city will likely need to keep Copenhagen Drive closed to vehicles for the rest of the year. The city closed off the road in June to provide businesses with space to expand into the street as public health regulations limited shops’ and […]
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Local barber shops, hair salons adapt to changing state regulations to slow the spread of COVID-19
When Alberto Licerio learned he would have to close his barber shop in Orcutt again only about a month after reopening, he was shocked. He is the owner and one of three barbers who work at Old Orcutt Barber Shop. Following California health orders aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19, Licerio initially closed the […]
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Pacific Pride Foundation announces new executive director
After two decades of working in different roles for various organizations in the LGBTQ-plus movement, Kristin Flickinger is starting a new venture as the executive director of the Pacific Pride Foundation. The foundation announced the hire on July 13, following a four-month nationwide search. “Kristin is going to be a key part in achieving our […]