HIFE
Summary
SCH Number
2026030923
Public Agency
California Department of Cannabis Control
(DCC)
Document Title
HIFE
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/23/2026
Document Description
The Department of Cannabis Control, pursuant to authority granted under Business and Profession Code, Division 10, Chapter 2, Section 26012, approved a Microbusiness commercial cannabis license. The project is located on a rural, 24.6-acre parcel in an Agricultural zoning district. This approval is for the establishment of a microbusiness for cultivation, distribution, and non-storefront retail at an existing commercial cannabis operation. The project will consist of 13,554 square feet of mixed light canopy area distributed among three (3) hoop houses and one (1) engineered greenhouse. The three (3) hoophouses will be 30’ by 120’ and each have 3,078 square feet of cannabis canopy, and the one (1) 60’ by 96’ engineered greenhouse contains 4,320 square feet of cannabis canopy. The project will have 3,081 square feet of support area, consisting of a 24 square foot shed for agricultural chemical and pesticide storage, 350 square feet of irrigation water storage tanks, an 1,800 square foot immature plant hoop house, and portions of the first floor of a building permitted for processing will serve the new microbusiness. The first floor new microbusiness will include processing/packaging areas, cannabis harvest storage areas, packaging and labeling area, administrative office area, and the loading/unloading zone for the non-storefront retail activities. Full-time tasks on site will be performed by a resident of the parcel and up to three (3) part-time employees. The 4,320 square foot greenhouse will have fifty-two (52) 500-watt lights, resulting in six (6) watts per square foot, consistent with Mixed-light Tier 1. The lights within the greenhouse will only be used after the greenhouse is fully covered with blackout tarps. No lighting within the hoop houses 1-3 is proposed or approved. The immature plant hoop house will use artificial lighting to prevent immature plants from flowering. The lighting for the hoop house will only be turned on after the hoop house is sealed with a blackout system of woven poly fabric. Energy needs are met by PG&E, an existing well will service water needs, and an existing septic system is on-site for sewage disposal.
Contact Information
Name
Michael J Montanus
Agency Name
Department of Cannabis Control
Job Title
Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Grass Valley
Counties
Nevada
Regions
Countywide
Parcel #
056-450-001
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CCR, Sec. 15183
Reasons for Exemption
The Department of Cannabis Control has determined that the project is consistent with the local jurisdiction community plan and/or zoning designations. On May 14, 2019, Nevada County Resolution No. 19-199 certified a Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR; SCH #2018082023) for the Nevada County Commercial Cannabis Cultivation Ordinance. On January 10, 2023, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors adopted an Addendum to the certified PEIR which analyzed potential impacts associated with amendments to the Nevada County Commercial Cannabis Cultivation Ordinance. CEQA mandates that the project is consistent with the development density established by existing zoning, community plan, or general plan policies for which an EIR was certified and shall not require additional environmental review, except as might be necessary to examine whether there are project-specific significant effects which are peculiar to the project or its site. The project activity fits within the parameters included in CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 and the activity does not require additional CEQA analysis.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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