Meeting Time:
April 27, 2026 at 5:30pm PDT
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Good evening Commissioners,
I’m here to raise urgent concerns about the City of Sacramento’s proposed Title 17 zoning changes that would eliminate long-standing sensitive-use protections.
These changes would allow marijuana dispensaries and on-site consumption lounges to locate directly next to churches and places of worship, parks, drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, youth-serving facilities, after-school programs, and residential neighborhoods.
Churches and places of worship serve as community anchors — providing youth programs, counseling, food distribution, and family support. Parks are where children play and families gather. These are exactly the types of environments Measure U is meant to protect and invest in.
From a Measure U perspective, this creates a serious contradiction. The City is investing millions into youth programs, violence prevention, homelessness services, and recovery support — while simultaneously considering land use policies that place cannabis businesses next to the very environments those programs are designed to protect.
We already require armed security at dispensaries because of the known risks — high cash volume, product value, and crime targeting. Expanding these uses without buffers increases clustering, increases exposure, and increases public safety costs, especially around churches, parks, and youth-centered spaces.
A Conditional Use Permit is not a safeguard — we have already seen cases in Sacramento where incompatible uses were approved despite strong community opposition.
I urge this Commission to formally review these Title 17 changes and provide a recommendation to City Council that preserves sensitive-use buffers — especially around churches and parks — and aligns land use policy with the City’s public health and safety investments.
Because if we fund these community spaces on one hand, and remove protections around them on the other — we are undermining our own work. Shame on you Mayor McCartney, Council Member Maple and Council Member Pluckabaum.
Thank you.