Humboldt Planning Commission Advances Key Housing and Cannabis Business Ordinances
Planners Recommend New Rules to Boost Affordable Housing and Aid Cannabis Cultivators
**HUMBOLDT COUNTY** – The Humboldt County Planning Commission took decisive action on Thursday, September 18, unanimously recommending two significant ordinance changes aimed at tackling the local housing crisis and supporting the county's vital cannabis industry.
The commission, with five of its seven members present, voted to forward a comprehensive amendment to the county's Density Bonus Ordinance to the Board of Supervisors. The proposal is designed to encourage developers to build more affordable housing by offering incentives, such as permission to build more units than zoning would typically allow, in exchange for dedicating a portion of the project to lower-income residents.
Key updates to the ordinance include expanding eligibility to housing projects for specific demographics, including lower-income students, transitional foster youth, disabled veterans, and homeless individuals. The amendment also clarifies the process for handling for-sale affordable units that don't sell, allowing them to be offered to qualified non-profit organizations, and introduces provisions for equity-sharing agreements.
Planners noted the changes would streamline the approval process, with the Planning & Building Director having ministerial authority to approve projects that meet the criteria. The update also tightens requirements for developers seeking incentives, mandating that any requested concessions result in identifiable, actual cost reductions for the project.
In a separate but equally significant action, the commission also voted 5-0 to approve a resolution for a “Micro-business ZCC Bundle Ordinance.” While fewer details were presented during the meeting, public comment suggested the ordinance is designed to help local cannabis businesses.
A representative from the Humboldt County Growers Alliance spoke in favor of the ordinance, emphasizing that market challenges have made vertical integration—where a business controls multiple stages of its production and distribution—a necessity for the survival of local cultivators. The speaker also suggested the county explore cottage industry permitting as another avenue to support small-scale operators.
During the public comment period, a resident also inquired about the status of a resolution to allow trellis netting for cannabis cultivators using best management practices. The commission chair indicated the item would be brought back for discussion before the end of the year.
Both the housing and cannabis ordinances will now be scheduled for review and a final vote by the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors in the coming weeks. The commission also briefly discussed modifications to a conditional use permit for Scenario LLC before moving on to its next major agenda item, the McKinleyville Town Center Zoning Amendment Ordinance.