On Tuesday, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors offered leeway to a large Korbel-area cannabis farm that had grown on a suspended permit and faced county permit revocation this week.
The permit holder told the supervisors he'd not gotten current on county conditions of the property's 2024 permit or paid planning and building department fees, as he was squeezed by state fees and regulations he prioritized over work with the county. The board ultimately voted 4-1, with 5th District Supervisor Steve Madrone dissenting, for the man to pay fees and get into a plan with the department to meet prior conditions by the end of the year, when Measure S taxes will also be owed.
The 47,700-square-foot commercial cannabis farm off state Route 299, Ghost Ship Investment, LLC, was up for permit revocation after a number of site visits found permit violations, including failure to add water storage on the site. He also owed around $5,000 to the county. Elvecio Machado told the supervisors he acquired the property in 2021 — and has slowly been improving the property.
"It has been a struggle," he said, and said he has been trying to survive since starting the company.
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