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SAN JOAQUIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION <br /> MEETING TODAY'S CHALLENGES / PLANNING FOR TOMORROW <br /> 04 <br /> August 4"' , 2023 <br /> Alisa Goulart <br /> San Joaquin County Community Development Department <br /> Development Services Division <br /> 1810 East Hazelton Avenue <br /> Stockton, CA 95205 <br /> RE : PA- 2100126 (UP) <br /> Dear Ms . Goulart . <br /> The San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation is San Joaquin County ' s oldest agriculture organization, <br /> dedicated to the advancement of agriculture for over 100 years . We have some concerns with application <br /> PAm2100126 , a Use Permit application for the cultivation of commercial cannabis . <br /> First, we are concerned with the size of the project compared with the size of the parcel . The planned project is <br /> set back only 25 -30 feet from the property line and neighboring agricultural operations . <br /> We are concerned about the safety of our families and our employees . Banta Elementary and Banta Charter School <br /> are located less than two and a half miles from the proposed site . Legal growing in other regions has attracted <br /> vandalism , theft, and violent crime that we do not wish to further invite into the rural landscape of our county . <br /> The county does not have the resources (in the Planning Department or the Sherriff s office) to patrol the county <br /> and protect the legal businesses that may establish in the zones , while also enforcing the laws against illegal <br /> cannabis . <br /> Maintaining and growing our agricultural industry in San Joaquin County is imperative to the economic viability <br /> of the entire county . In terms of impacts to agriculture, we do not believe cannabis production to be a compatible <br /> use in this ag zoned area of the county and we are concerned that cannabis production will undermine the <br /> agriculture operations around it . Cannabis is a highly sensitive crop that will directly impact neighboring <br /> agricultural operations financially through contamination lawsuits , theft losses , and labor issues . In addition, as <br /> evident in other counties that have allowed cannabis production, countless illegal grows will pop up causing more <br /> issues and more work for the Ag Commissioner' s and Sheriffs offices . In fact, many of these commercial grows <br /> are failing because of the competition from illegal grows . Failure of this project would further negatively impact <br /> farming activities in the general vicinity . <br /> Finally, this type of development is not consistent with the General Plan policies regarding the protection of <br /> agricultural resources , specifically land . This is an urban project better suited for existing commercial zones or a <br /> Cannabis Business Park in San Joaquin County . <br /> This project is not compatible with this location . We urge you to protect the children attending the <br /> neighboring schools and the surrounding neighbors and agricultural operations . <br /> Sincerely , <br /> Andrew Genasci <br /> Executive Director , San Joaquin Farm Bureau <br /> 3290 NORTH AD ART ROAD • STOCKTON , CA • 95215 • (209) 9314931 • (209 ) 931 - 1 433 Fax <br /> WWW . SJFB . ORG <br />