March 26th 2025 Newsletter - Exclusion zones. Why Is Permit Sonoma Tone Deaf to Rural Residents?
March 26, 2025
Permit Sonoma Refuses to Consider Exclusion Zones or Rural Neighborhood Enclaves
Over three years ago, we provided Permit Sonoma with detailed analyses of exclusion zones that would forbid commercial cultivation, processing, or sale of cannabis on specific parcels. We identified at least 12 specific areas that should be designated Exclusion Zones. Permit Sonoma knows from neighbor complaints that each area we identified is a problem area.
Permit Sonoma conducted a survey in 2021 and learned that 74% of County residents approve of Exclusion Zones. The right of neighborhoods to exclude commercial cannabis is a compelling interest and is completely consistent with the fact those same residents voted to legalize cannabis.
The Project Description in the Notice of Preparation (p. 4) directs Permit Sonoma to evaluate criteria
Sonoma County knows how to create Exclusion Zones. The Supervisors designated 8,000 parcels in 15 neighborhoods in 2016 the as Exclusion Zones for vacation rentals. The Supervisors designated another 9,230 parcels in 17 neighborhoods in 2023 as Exclusion Zones for vacation rentals. Thus, the County has recognized Exclusion Zones for vacation rentals for about 17,000 parcels in 32 neighborhoods. This is not rocket science.
We provided suitable and definable criteria to make Exclusion Zone determinations, including groundwater availability, road access, emergency response times, biological habitat protection, residential character, and strong local resistance to commercial cannabis. We acknowledge that ultimately Exclusion Zone decisions are an exercise in political judgment, but these parameters provide objective reasons for those decisions.
In December 2023 Permit Sonoma rolled out a flawed plan for “Rural Neighborhood Enclaves,” a concept similar to Exclusion Zones, by recognizing the residents’ articulated voice to exclude cannabis grows in their neighborhoods. Since then, Permit Sonoma has not publicly discussed or further evaluated Rural Neighborhood Enclaves.
Why does Permit Sonoma refuse to use Exclusion Zones and Rural Neighborhood Enclaves to protect neighborhoods?
Why does Permit Sonoma refuse to designate the areas we have identified as Exclusion Zones or Enclaves in the ordinance?
Does Permit Sonoma relish the continued strife in rural neighborhoods?
Do the Supervisors care to resolve the plague of ill feelings and resentment about cannabis activity in rural Sonoma County or would they rather sit by and let the hostilities continue?
Permit Sonoma has essentially rewritten the Project Description in the Notice of Preparation. Failing to implement Exclusion Zones and Rural Neighborhood Enclaves, while substituting new features such as “crop swaps,” violates the California Environmental Quality Act and puts the County’s entire ordinance rewrite process in legal jeopardy.
Is the County incapable of learning from its mistakes in losing court cases for the Sonoma Development Center and the Groundwater Well Ordinance?
When the County stops beating its head against the wall, the hurting can stop.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
If you support Exclusion Zones and Rural Neighborhood Enclaves, phone (the Supervisors switchboard (707-565-2241)) and/or write your supervisor (addresses below) and tell the Supervisors you want the cannabis ordinance to have Exclusion Zones and Rural Neighborhood Enclaves.
- Become fully aware of the cannabis ordinance changes at the County’s website that impact your property;
- Visit Neighborhood Coalition Sonoma County to learn more ways you can get involved and help protect your neighborhood
- Make a donation You can donate online , or you can mail a check to:
Sonoma Neighborhood Coalition
PO Box 1229
Sebastopol, CA 95473
Our campaign to preserve what we all hold near and dear needs your support. Your tax-deductible donation will fund technical experts and our legal team that are critical to our effort to require the County to protect our environment, children, and the health and safety of our neighborhoods.
The Neighborhood Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, volunteer-based, dedicated to advocating for proper cannabis and land-use policies that benefit the community. All donations support these efforts.
Thank you for your support and donation.
The Neighborhood Coalition team
Board of Supervisor’s emails
1st District:
Rebecca Hermosillo
Rebecca.Hermosillo@sonoma-county.org
2nd District:
David Rabbitt
David.Rabbitt@sonoma-county.org
3rd District:
Chris Coursey
district3@sonoma-county.org
4th District:
James Gore
District4@sonoma-county.org
5th District:
Lynda Hopkins
Lynda.Hopkins@sonoma-county.org
Please send a copy of your letter to sonomaneighborhoodcoalition@gmail.com
