Blythe, CA is Accepting Commercial Cannabis License Applications

The application process has officially started in City of Blythe, CA to obtain a Commercial Cannabis Business Permit as of September 18, 2017.  Final applications must be received by 4:00 PM on November 17, 2017. The application process has been put in place pursuant to Resolution No. 2017-033. 

For questions regarding the application process call or visit:

• Administration Office in City Hall

235 North Broadway, Blythe, CA, 92225

• (760) 922-6161
• www.cityofblythe.ca.gov

• Cannabis Ordinance 883-17

Follow these steps to apply for a City of Blythe, CA Commercial Cannabis Business Permit: 

Step 1:  Determine an Acceptable Location for a Commercial Cannabis Business (CCB)

Step 2:  Complete Criminal History Check (Live Scan)

Step 3:  Complete and Review the Application Process for a Commercial Cannabis Business (CCB) in the City of Blythe, CA.

Prior to applying:

• Review the information and learn about the application process and which documents you will need. 
• Taking a good look at the entire application and ensure all the of required information is available.  

​Step 1:  Determine an Acceptable Location for a Commercial Cannabis Business (CCB)
 
The application must include the address and a detailed description of the proposed Commercial Cannabis Business location (Note that proof of ownership, or a notarized letter of the owner’s willingness to lease will not be given any additional consideration until Phase 3). The applicant must also describe all sensitive uses described within six hundred (600) feet of the proposed location from the property line of a K-12 school, child daycare center, youth center, parks, places of worship and within 1000 feet of adult day care centers. The CCB must be in the appropriate zoning or have a proposed zone change and meet all the locational requirements as described in BMC Chapter 17.63E and BMC 5.10.290 (o) and BMC 883-17.

​Blythe Zoning Map:

Locations of Commercial Cannabis Business Dispensaries will be permitted as follows:

• In the C-C, Commercial Community Business, C-G General Commercial, and in I-G, General Industry Zone.
• The dispensary must not be located on a parcel located within a six hundred (600) feet radius of a school (whether public, private, or charter, including pre-school, transitional kindergarten, and K-12). If any part of a parcel falls within the 600 feet, then the entire parcel shall meet the requirements of this paragraph.
• No closer than six hundred (600) feet from any portion of any parcel in the City limits containing any of the following:
  • A youth facility;
  • A daycare facility serving nine or more children and is licensed by the county or city;
  • Parks and places of worship at the discretion of the City Council;
  • An adult day care facility serving nine or more adults and licenses by the State, County or City. 

All other Commercial Cannabis Businesses (other than dispensaries), including those permitted to engage in cultivation, manufacturing, testing, distribution of cannabis and cannabis products will only be permitted if all the following requirements are met: 

• The commercial cannabis business other than a dispensary must be located on property zoned C-C, Community Commercial Business, C-G, General Commercial, I-G General Industrial; and
• The property on which the commercial cannabis business is located must also meet all of the following distance requirements: 
  • It shall be no closer than six hundred (600) feet from any portion of any parcel containing any of the following:
    • A school (whether public, private, or charter, including pre-school, transitional kindergarten, and K-12);
    • A daycare facility serving nine or more children and is licensed by the county; and City;
    • Any park or place of worship at the discretion of the City Council;
    • A youth facility; and
    • An adult day care facility serving nine or more adults and licenses by the State, County or City.  

Applicants will be required to obtain a “Zoning Verification Letter” from the Planner in the Planning Division in City Hall,  to ensure that the location proposal the applicant is applying for meets locational requirements prior to submitting their CCB application. Sites with proposed zone changes to an allowed zone will be eligible for an approved zoning verification letter.  The review process typically takes approximately ten (10) working days and will cost $122.33 The “Zoning Verification Letter” will need to be included with the application package. Please note the issuance of a “Zoning Verification Letter” does not mean the written evidence of permission given by the City of Blythe or any of its officials to operate a CCB, nor does it not mean “permit” within the meaning of the Permit Streamlining Act, nor does it constitute an entitlement under the Zoning or Building Code. A regulatory permit for regulating a CCB does not constitute a permit that runs with the land on which the CCB is established. Request for Zoning Verification Letters require a written request from the Planning Division and will not be completed over the counter since it may require additional research and review. 

Step 2:  Complete Criminal History Check (Live Scan)

City of Blythe Commercial Cannabis Employee/Owner Background Application

• Each principal/owner must undergo a criminal background check demonstrating that they do not provide “good cause” for denial per BMC Section 5.10.290 (m).
• The Live Scan Fee will be $101.26 and the background check fee shall be $300. The application for the Live Scan will be available on the City website or at the Administration Office in City Hall.
• Please provide proof of completing your background form and/or Live Scan form by providing proof of a receipt with your application on or before November 17, 2017.
• This process will be required to meet the minimum threshold qualifications pursuant to BMC Section 5.10.290 (m). Principals who do not meet criminal history eligibility requirements will be disqualified. 

 
Step 3:  Complete and Review the Application Process for a Commercial Cannabis Business (CCB) in the City of Blythe, CA.

Blythe Commercial Cannabis Application Form

Application Procedure

Applicants must hand deliver a complete comprehensive and signed copy of the Blythe Commercial Cannabis Business Form, and all attachments along with a flash drive which contains one comprehensive and signed copy of the application in a pdf format, and payment of $3,680 starting on September 18, 2017, the initial application and fee must be received by November 17, 2017. Payment must be made by a certified check, cashier’s check or money order made payable to the City of Blythe. Application Fees are non-refundable. A complete application will consist of the following information:

• The Blythe Commercial Cannabis Business Form;
• Background Authorization Form and/or Proof of Live Scan payment for each of the Principals;
• Zoning Verification Letter;
• All of the information about the CCB that will be evaluated as described in the approval Phase 1- 4 below; and
• LATE AND INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

The City Manager or designee shall administer the following three stage process for the screening and evaluation of Commercial Cannabis Business applications. The process for obtaining approval of a license to operate a Commercial Cannabis Business within Blythe, CA consists of the following three stages:

Phase 1:  Determination of Eligibility and Application:

• Each Principal must undergo a criminal history check demonstrating compliance with the eligibility requirements of BMC Section 5.10.070 (d) and 5.10.290(m).
• Applications must be complete to be considered. Applications will be considered complete only if they include all information required for Phases 1, 2 and 3.
• Proposed location of business.
• Execute an agreement indemnifying the City from liability.

All eligible applications will move onto Phase 2.

Phase 2:  Initial Ranking (1,500 Points)

Applicants who scored a minimum of 80% in Phase 2 will move to Phase 3.  Applications will be given a score based on the following criteria:

• Proposed Location of business (300 Points);
• Business Plan (400 Points);
• Neighborhood Compatibility Plan (300 Points);
• Safety and Security Plan (300 Points); and
• Labor and Employment Plan (200 Points).

Phase 3:  Second Ranking (2,500 Points)

Prior to the scheduling of the interviews in Phase 3 each of the applicants will be required to have their proposed site inspected by the assigned City designee to ascertain current conditions of the facility. 

The second ranking will be scored based on the following criteria:  

After all the applicants from Phase 3 scores have been tabulated they will be combined with Phase 2 to establish a new ranking of the top applicants. The top applicants for each category as determined by the procedures shall move onto Phase 4 of the selection process for further consideration.
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Phase 4:  City Manager’s Recommendations and City Council’s Final Approval

This phase will consist of the following:

• Selection Committee’s final review and evaluation;
• City Manager presents final rankings and recommendation report to City Council; and
• City Council Approves Final recommendations.

​
Please note:  After the completion of the application interviews in Phase 3 and prior to the Selection Committees final review and evaluation, the City reserves the right to request and obtain additional information from any candidate who submitted a proposal. Upon the completion of the final review process, the Selection Committee will tabulate its final scores of the all applicants who were interviewed in Phase 3. The City Manager will present to the City Council the final ranking along with his/her recommendation in which the City Council may award up to the amount permitted by the Ordinance or Council Resolution pursuant to BMC Section 5.10.80 The City Council reserves the right to award a lesser number of permits, or to award no permits at all.  Only those applicants on the final list will be eligible to be issued a permit from the initial permit process. The top Applicants which are being recommended by the City Manager for consideration to the City Council should be prepared to attend a City Council meeting in Blythe to provide a public presentation before the Mayor and City Council introducing their team and providing an overview of their proposal if requested by the City Manager.