The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission on Wednesday approved a preliminary design for a cannabis processing facility over objections from Carpinteria Valley residents. 

The panel discussed the G&K Farm/K&G Flower processing plant last month and delayed a decision. The facility was approved in 2023, so the current review is focused on the design, staff said. 

It will be built at 3561 Foothill Road, near cannabis greenhouses also co-owned by Graham Farrar, a founding member of CARP Growers. 

Carpinteria-area resident Jill Stassinos filed an appeal after the South Board of Architectural Review approved the preliminary design for the 25,000-square-foot building.

She and other residents pointed to the visual impact of the new structure and to hundreds of odor complaints filed against G&K Farm’s greenhouse cannabis farms. 

“They’re not good neighbors,” nearby resident Paul Roberts said. 

“Drying and processing is potentially the smelliest phase in cannabis production,” Foothill Road resident Mark Brickley said. 

Jay Higgins, who represented G&K Farm/K&G Flower, said odor is a different issue than design, and they welcomed feedback on paint color, landscaping and other design details. 

The commissioners voted 4-1 to grant preliminary design approval but, as they sent it back to the SBAR, hinted that it should be given a closer look. 

“The Planning Commission encourages the SBAR to determine whether it can affirm that BAR findings can be made,” the motion said. 

Commissioner Mike Cooney voted against approval and said it was unfortunate their options were limited with the previous approvals.  

“The applicant’s compliance with rules that are in place right now, not the new cannabis rules, is abysmal,” Cooney said. “It was as if there was no concern at all about spreading the odors throughout the Carpinteria Valley.”