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Lemoore City Council approves cannabis agreement with Valley Pure, debates status of popular skate park
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Council members discussed the issue at their regular Tuesday meeting (Oct. 1).
Sponsored by the Lemoore Rotary Club, the skateboard facility, built at about the same time as the railroad depot – soon to become a marijuana dispensary – was moved and rebuilt in Lemoore. Basketball courts and a water feature were installed at about the same time.
Initially, city officials, reacting to state regulations, appeared intent on moving the concrete behemoth to a proposed location off Cinnamon Drive, near the city’s Cinnamon Complex. An attractive aspect of the planned move was that it would have been paid for by the two cannabis companies seeking development agreements with the city.
The cost of moving the skate park would have been about $700,000, the costs divided by the two approved cannabis dispensaries: Valley Pure and Natural Healing Center (NHC), both recently approved by the city council.
Currently, state regulations require at least 600 feet separate cannabis dispensaries from parks and places where children may congregate. However, municipalities have the option of changing those requirements, a fact that council members learned at their meeting on Tuesday night.
It seems there are some folks who like the skate park just where it is, despite a development agreement with Valley Pure, a cannabis dispensary planning to open soon in the city-owned railroad depot, located adjacent to the skate park and water feature, both amenities enjoyed daily by the community.
According to Lemoore City Manager Nathan Olson, the status of the skateboard park remains somewhat up in the air. “I don’t know,” he said. “We need to figure out how to do it and make it work out,” he told The Leader. “We’ll need to allow the public to see it co-exist (with the nearby dispensary). Does it take a complete ordinance change or a conditional use permit to see how it works? I just want to make sure we’re not doing anything that we can’t do legally.”
Currently, state law mandates 600 feet from parks and other areas where children congregate. “The local jurisdiction can change that,” said Olson.
Council members, after more than an hour of back and forth, voted 4-0 to approve a project development agreement with Valley Pure, a Woodlake-based cannabis firm that has been operating in the Central Valley for more than a year. Mayor Eddie Neal recused himself from the decision-making process due to a previous connection to a proposed cannabis business that applied for a permit but was rejected.
Armed with a city-approved agreement, Valley Pure could open its doors soon. “That’s really up to the state now,” said Olson. “They sent the regulatory permit to the state. The state has already contacted the city. Once we say yes, they’ve met our requirements. They’re (Valley Pure) in the queue for approval. “I’m anticipating two to six weeks.”
The other proposed dispensary, NHC, will have its development agreement discussed at the council’s next meeting, Oct. 15. “We publicly noticed them for their hearing. They’re pending approval.”
While the establishment of two cannabis outlets in Lemoore has generally been well received, there are detractors. Longtime resident Carol Dias, during a public hearing related to the dispensary, said she wants to see Valley Pure set up shop elsewhere. “I can’t believe we can’t find another place for a pot dispensary,” she said. “I wish the council would look for another place to put the pot dispensary. I don’t want to see the town go to pot.”
Melody Downie-Dack asked council members about possible traffic woes associated with increased parking and circulation. “What is the plan for traffic? What is the impact on traffic flow? I haven’t seen anything addressed there.”
“The depot was a primary location because of its parking,” said Olson. There is currently a large parking lot adjacent to the train depot. The Lemoore Chamber of Commerce often sponsors spring and summer gatherings in the nearby gazebo.
It was Councilman Stuart Lyons who suggested that the city might rethink its stance regarding the skateboard park. “Our job is to do what’s best for the city,” he said, suggesting that the park remains where it is.
Mayor pro tem John Plourde appeared to agree and suggested that the city let public opinion decide the park’s ultimate fate. “We’re going to do it in the best interest of public opinion,” acknowledging that the public could decide that it needs to go.
“If it’s something the council wants to allow, maybe we allow the two to coexist,” said Olson.
Local business owner and skateboard enthusiast Tim Welsh argued against moving the skate park. “The skate park is centrally located,” he said.
Even Downie-Dack agreed with Welsh. “Maybe (build) a wall between the dispensary and skate park. “I’m not opposed to a trial program. Give it some time to work itself out a little bit,” she said.
City officials estimate that the city expects to earn approximately $500,00 per year from sales tax revenue, a 25 percent increase over its existing $2 million per year average.
