Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
The Stockton Planning Commission approved a use permit for an indoor medical cannabis cultivation site on Navy Drive despite a "hostile" response from several existing business owners in the area.
Thursday's action passed 5-2, with Commissioners Don Aguillard and Sol Jobrack opposing.
Douglas Chloupek applied for a permit to operate a facility at 1903 Navy Drive, which is currently a vacant 11,448-square-foot warehouse. Chloupek, CEO of VG Enterprises, plans to turn the warehouse into an indoor cultivation nursery for medical marijuana plants as allowed by California law.
According to city staff, the Stockton Police Department reviewed VG Enterprises' security plan and said it meets standards for security guards, access controls, video surveillance and lighting.
The city likes the proposal because it "would strengthen the surrounding neighborhood by turning a vacant building into usable industrial space, and the proposed security would serve to further enhance the surrounding neighborhood."
City staff said crime in the area is close to 56 percent below the Stockton average, but business owners argued the number was low because they stopped reporting crimes and adding a cultivation site would only attract more crime.
Lori Toccoli, president and CEO of Stockton Petroleum Company, said the area is already plagued by crime, including prostitution and burglaries, and she does not want to add another issue.
The reason why the crime percentage is low is because people no longer report crimes, Toccoli said. Her employees now leave trucks unlocked because it's cheaper to replace what's stolen than the damage caused to get into the trucks.
Ben Tavakoli, owner of All Foreign & Domestic Body Shop, said if the planning commission voted in favor of the site, it was voting against the businesses already in that area who don't want it there.
While the majority of business owners against the cultivation site said what Chloupek is doing is "great" and said they weren't against medical marijuana, they were against having it near their businesses.
Several other businesses worry having a warehouse growing marijuana and flowing with cash will attract people who want to break into the facility.
Chloupek, addressing some of the complaints, said at his cultivation site in the East Bay, he's never heard a single complaint or had a crime happen. He added the Stockton facility will have on-site roaming security 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as well as of motion sensor cameras, a fence and other security measures. Employees hired to work at the facility are required to undergo a background check by the chief of police and there will be no cash at the facility since the money is handled by a management company.
Those who oppose Thursday's approval will have a chance to appeal the decision with the Stockton City Council.
Jobrack said he voted no because the business owners will never be at a place where they can agree to work together.
"I have no doubt what (Chloupek is) saying will be true, but I can't support it," he said.
Commissioner Elizabeth Hull said while she's concerned about placing a business in a hostile environment, "land use is land use" and those opposing would be jumping for joy if the issue didn't involve marijuana. She added that she was most concerned to hear current businesses owner are not reporting crimes, calling police and leaving vehicles unlocked.
"If they don't come, what changes?" she said.
Added Hull: Chloupek hasn't done one thing that says he's a safety or health risk.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Planners OK Navy Drive medical cannabis cultivation site - News - recordnet.com - Stockton, CA
Author: Almendra Carpizo
Contact: Contact Us
Photo Credit: The Record
Website: recordnet.com: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Stockton, CA
Thursday's action passed 5-2, with Commissioners Don Aguillard and Sol Jobrack opposing.
Douglas Chloupek applied for a permit to operate a facility at 1903 Navy Drive, which is currently a vacant 11,448-square-foot warehouse. Chloupek, CEO of VG Enterprises, plans to turn the warehouse into an indoor cultivation nursery for medical marijuana plants as allowed by California law.
According to city staff, the Stockton Police Department reviewed VG Enterprises' security plan and said it meets standards for security guards, access controls, video surveillance and lighting.
The city likes the proposal because it "would strengthen the surrounding neighborhood by turning a vacant building into usable industrial space, and the proposed security would serve to further enhance the surrounding neighborhood."
City staff said crime in the area is close to 56 percent below the Stockton average, but business owners argued the number was low because they stopped reporting crimes and adding a cultivation site would only attract more crime.
Lori Toccoli, president and CEO of Stockton Petroleum Company, said the area is already plagued by crime, including prostitution and burglaries, and she does not want to add another issue.
The reason why the crime percentage is low is because people no longer report crimes, Toccoli said. Her employees now leave trucks unlocked because it's cheaper to replace what's stolen than the damage caused to get into the trucks.
Ben Tavakoli, owner of All Foreign & Domestic Body Shop, said if the planning commission voted in favor of the site, it was voting against the businesses already in that area who don't want it there.
While the majority of business owners against the cultivation site said what Chloupek is doing is "great" and said they weren't against medical marijuana, they were against having it near their businesses.
Several other businesses worry having a warehouse growing marijuana and flowing with cash will attract people who want to break into the facility.
Chloupek, addressing some of the complaints, said at his cultivation site in the East Bay, he's never heard a single complaint or had a crime happen. He added the Stockton facility will have on-site roaming security 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as well as of motion sensor cameras, a fence and other security measures. Employees hired to work at the facility are required to undergo a background check by the chief of police and there will be no cash at the facility since the money is handled by a management company.
Those who oppose Thursday's approval will have a chance to appeal the decision with the Stockton City Council.
Jobrack said he voted no because the business owners will never be at a place where they can agree to work together.
"I have no doubt what (Chloupek is) saying will be true, but I can't support it," he said.
Commissioner Elizabeth Hull said while she's concerned about placing a business in a hostile environment, "land use is land use" and those opposing would be jumping for joy if the issue didn't involve marijuana. She added that she was most concerned to hear current businesses owner are not reporting crimes, calling police and leaving vehicles unlocked.
"If they don't come, what changes?" she said.
Added Hull: Chloupek hasn't done one thing that says he's a safety or health risk.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Planners OK Navy Drive medical cannabis cultivation site - News - recordnet.com - Stockton, CA
Author: Almendra Carpizo
Contact: Contact Us
Photo Credit: The Record
Website: recordnet.com: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Stockton, CA
