More cannabis shops may pop up in the City of San Leandro. City staff plan to come back with an ordinance that would allow two more cannabis operating permits, making the total allowance of marijuana shops to six.
The work session on Sept. 14 included discussion about reducing the sensitive use distance to state standards, clarifying what is a youth center and allowing cannabis shops in commercial and industrial zoning districts except for the downtown area.
The sensitive use distance policy is the distance between where a cannabis shop can be located and the nearest youth or family gathering places. The city council said they are interested in reducing the distance and making it the same as state standards. The proposed distance cannabis shops can be located went from 1,000 feet to 600 feet away from schools, youth centers and parks.
The youth center definition would be similar to the City of Alameda’s, but would mention local studios or businesses that exist in San Leandro, including soccer clubs and dance studios. The definition says a youth center can be a public or private facility that’s used to host recreational or social activities for minors. Youth centers would not include any building or facility that teaches any physical fitness classes that also teach adults.
