Redding gives a green light to first cannabis cultivator

10/12/18

Redding California - "Location, location, location.

Minutes before ratifying its objection to a cannabis cultivation business opening next to the Good News Rescue Mission, the Redding Planning Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved a similar operation on Innsbruck Drive in a largely industrial area.

The Planning Commission made quick work of the Innsbruck proposal, approving Pinnacle Cultivator’s use permit after nobody spoke for or against the commercial marijuana business on the city's east side, north of Highway 44.

It was a stark contrast to the commission’s Aug. 28 meeting, when Aleck Commercial Cultivation’s proposal for South Market Street drew opposition from the Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter that also operates addiction recovery programs for men and women.

After hearing those concerns, the Planning Commission at that meeting blocked the project, a decision it ratified 5-2 on Tuesday. Commissioners Michele Goedert and Randy Memeo dissented.

Among the other reasons the Planning Commission denied Aleck Commercial Cultivation’s use permit is the location is in a high-crime area and it’s close to homes and apartments.

Aleck Cultivation has appealed to the Redding City Council.

Meanwhile, Pinnacle Cultivators scored the city’s first use permit for a marijuana commercial cultivation business.

Before endorsing it, Commissioner Goedert recommended removing a condition requiring a facility processing food or drink products containing cannabis be required to connect to kitchen drainage fixtures.

“We don’t want to give the appearance at all that it could be anything other than cultivation,” Goedert said.

The condition was removed and the project passed.

Pinnacle Cultivators owner Kole Heston has said he wants to open in six months to a year. Heston owns the 2915 Innsbruck Drive building.

He has been cultivating and selling cannabis to dispensaries locally and across California for 10 years. When California voters made recreational marijuana legal in 2016, Heston saw an opportunity to grow his business.

A 2007 Pioneer High School graduate (he also attended Foothill High), Heston has said he got into the cannabis business for its healing qualities.

Pinnacle Cultivators will have 10 to 15 employees to start. But Heston envisions five to 10 years from now expanding into distribution and retail and employing 50 to 100 people."