The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission sided in favor of an appeal against a Carpinteria cannabis farm in a narrow vote that hinged on the issue of odors and backlash from neighbors.
During Wednesday’s meeting in Santa Barbara, the board heard arguments against Island Breeze Farms from a local homeowners group and neighbors.
Even though county staff recommended that the commissioners reject the appeal, the commission supported the appeal and directed staff to return with grounds for denying the application.
Island Breeze has appeared before the Planning Commission before because of odor complaints from neighbors and the Las Canchas Homeowners Association.
The farm was applying for approval for a mixed-light (greenhouse) cannabis operation.
In June, the commissioners asked the operators to update the odor abatement plan and install carbon scrubbers to filter any emissions from the farm.
At Wednesday’s hearing, one of the neighbors requesting the appeal was Nathan Norris, who lives next door to the farm. Norris believes that Island Breeze was always an illegal operation and should never have been considered for a permit.
He also said that the current operation is growing past its original size and will only make the smell worse for residents.
“It has been a nuisance to our community with surrounding residents complaining of odor for years,” Norris said. “I urge you to uphold the appeal and deny Island Breeze a permit to grow in our community.”
The vote against the farm was led by Commissioner C. Michael Cooney from the First District, where the farm is located.
In his comments, he said Island Breeze is not the only farm that has complaints about smells. Cooney continued by saying that he was not certain that the farm could prevent odors based on the evidence presented.
“My motion would be to deny the current application [and] to grant the appeal on the grounds stated that we need to find … the application would be in the interest of the surrounding neighborhood, and I believe today’s hearing aptly indicates that is not the case,” Cooney said.
The two votes against the application denial were Roy Reed from District 4 and John Parke from District 3.
Reed expressed disappointment that the commission was planning to continue the issue and said the farm had complied with the commissioners’ wishes and answered questions.
He also pointed out that another farm in the area had a similar odor abatement plan and nearby residents have not submitted any complaints against it.
“I was prepared to resolve the issue rather than continue it, so I would not be able to support that motion,” Reed said.
Parke echoed Reed’s statements, saying this is likely the best the residents would get.
Parke said the farm had complied with the request for carbon scrubbers, for which he had led the call at the June meeting. Unlike some operators, he said Island Breeze has not fought the request and uses additional odor prevention measures, such as a vapor phase.
Parke added that the issue would likely go to the Board of Supervisors and that the board would likely side with the farm.
“I think you’re better off taking a bird in hand, and that is the carbon scrubbers plus the vapor phase,” Parke said.
Vincent Martinez, the board chair, joined Cooney in voting to deny the application.
Second District Commissioner Laura Bridley broke the tie, saying she had concerns about the commission hearing multiple complaints about odors over the years.
She also acknowledged that Island Breeze has past complaints of going against county ordinances.
“I don’t want to call it a bad actor, but I think this particular site got caught doing something and didn’t follow good rules like our other applicants in Carpinteria,” Bridley said. “So, I have no sympathy for this particular applicant.”