High-Country Health Food and Cafe in Mariposa California

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'Click' Here to Visit: 'Yosemite Bug Health Spa', Now Open.
'Click' Here to Visit: 'Yosemite Bug Health Spa', Now Open. "We provide a beautiful and relaxing atmosphere. Come in and let us help You Relax"
'Click' for More Info: 'Chocolate Soup', Fine Home Accessories and Gifts, Located in Mariposa, California
'Click' for More Info: 'Chocolate Soup', Fine Home Accessories and Gifts, Located in Mariposa, California
'Click' Here to Visit Happy Burger Diner in Mariposa... "We have FREE Wi-Fi, we're Eco-Friendly & have the Largest Menu in the Sierra"
'Click' Here to Visit Happy Burger Diner in Mariposa... "We have FREE Wi-Fi, we're Eco-Friendly & have the Largest Menu in the Sierra"
'Click' for More Info: Inter-County Title Company Located in Mariposa, California
'Click' for More Info: Inter-County Title Company Located in Mariposa, California

SST LTROctober 1, 2019 - This Ordinance on the agenda for the Planning Commission’s 10/11 meeting proposes to permit large scale commercial production of hemp in Mariposa County.  Hemp is hard to tell from the hallucinogenic marijuana unless it is tested in a lab.  The proposed Ordinance seems well thought out but for one major part.   It proposes to permit as an Administrative Use Permit use.  This means an industrial sized operation could be permitted in Mariposa County at the discretion of the Planning Director without community review or input.  It should be permitted as a Conditional Use Permit use.

Legal hemp cultivation is a new industry for the State and certainly for Mariposa, and there are issues of the potential problems with ground water and air quality, as well as potentially significant costs to the County to oversee permit compliance.  There is also the issue that while hemp was eliminated from the Federal list of Schedule 1 drugs through the Farm Bill in 2018, marijuana is still illegal at the Federal level.  If not properly monitored, our ordinance could attract illegal grows and bring a criminal class of individuals into our communities.  Community involvement in the permitting process will lessen the possibility of costly future litigation if we get it wrong on the water and air issues and it will raise community awareness to the necessity of permit compliance to avoid the last issue.

I greatly respect our current Planning Director.  However, the Ordinance as written puts too much responsibility on one person.   Hemp cultivation should be permitted as a Conditional Use Permit use.

Margaret Udell Williams
Bear Valley, CA