Challenges begin for Belmont’s 1st dispensary proposal

But one of the city’s first potential development agreements, which proposed a cannabis retail store at 1538 El Camino Real, already faced pushback from a majority of the Planning Commission and was ultimately not recommended to advance in a 4-2 vote during a recent meeting.

For commissioners Cherry Twigg and Joanne Adamkewicz, the proximity of the proposed location to residential properties along Fifth Avenue posed concerns, as well as seemingly inadequate public notice to those residents.

The proposal rehashed a controversial, multiyear effort that eventually culminated in the city permitting cannabis operations in certain areas along El Camino Real. While any county resident can receive cannabis deliveries, only a few cities allow brick-and-mortar retail businesses, including Pacifica, Redwood City and Belmont — though the latter has yet to approve a dispensary.

For Commissioner Peter Meier, the prospect of allowing cannabis stores to operate in the city was most concerning.

“In communities that have retail cannabis — in my own observations — it’s been that the businesses tend to be a magnet for crime, including burglaries, robberies and violent crimes. They tend to increase illegal smoking in public areas and they generally … can contribute to degradation of public spaces,” Meier said.

While Meier, along with several residents and Commissioner David Kramer, made clear they were not generally in favor of cannabis operators in Belmont, City Attorney Scott Rennie reiterated during an at-times tense discussion that the commission was not to “relitigate the allowability of cannabis” but whether each of the proposed projects fit into already-established parameters as part of the new zoning district.

Police Chief Ken Stenquist said he didn’t find that nearby cities that permitted dispensaries saw increased crime when he researched the matter at the end of 2023.

“Is it going to increase crime? Probably not. Is it a risky endeavor? Sure, but I also feel we’re geared up for that. In the stats we pulled previously … [the cities] had not seen an increase in crime,” Stenquist said, adding that there is more crime related to marijuana sold on the black market than legally operating dispensaries.

Redwood City police Officer Jeff Clements, a spokesperson for the department, said the city hasn’t seen a “noticeable increase in crime” due to the several cannabis establishments in the city.

The commission also heard a proposal for Canna-Bel dispensary, which currently houses the Sumac restaurant. The site is located between the El Camino Real and the Caltrain rail corridor, providing more buffer between the nearby residential area.

Despite rejecting NUG Dispensary’s proposal, the commission voted 4-2 to recommend approval of Canna-Bel to the City Council — with Meier and Kramer still opposing.

“This location is different, and I do find that it is suitable. My concern about the previous one was that we had the lot lines touching on the residents, and that is not the case here,” Adamkewicz said.

Boosting revenue sources was a significant factor in the decision to pilot dispensaries along El Camino Real. Cannabis operators face a 6% business license tax on gross receipts — compared to 0.4% for other retailers — and could face an additional 1.5% to 2% of gross receipts during the first year of operation for Parks and Recreation-related programming, according to a recent City Council discussion. The NUG dispensary also agreed to make a $50,000 donation to the Parks and Recreation Department for a mobile recreation vehicle.

Despite commissioners’ recommendations, the City Council can ultimately decide whether it wants to approve the development agreement proposals. The council will review and discuss both proposals March 25.