Santa Barbara County Approves Second Cannabis ‘Grow’ for Central Coast Agriculture
Supervisors Brush Aside Coalition’s Concerns About Water Supply, Air Pollution
A 24-acre cannabis “grow” on Santa Rosa Road owned by John De Friel, a North County industry leader, was approved for zoning permits this week by the county Board of Supervisors amid unresolved air-quality violations, contradictory reports on the proposed water supply, and references to “misstatements and misrepresentations” made by De Friel’s lawyer at a previous hearing.
On Tuesday, the Santa Barbara Coalition for Responsible Cannabis, a countywide group that advocates for stricter regulation of the industry, argued that the wells for Central Coast Agriculture, located along the Santa Ynez River at 5645 Santa Rosa Road, would be drawing water from subterranean streams that replenish the river. The state Water Resources Control Board bans the use of such water for cannabis cultivation between April 1 and October 31.
“This site can’t sustain the amount of acreage that’s proposed for it,” Marc Chytilo, a coalition attorney, told the board.
