HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSE-20-54 Hmong Cannabis Cultivators RedactedApplication Type
Social Equity Criteria
Applicant (Entity) Information
Social Equity Cannabis Business
Permit Application
CSE-20-54
Submitted On: Nov 13, 2020
Applicant
Carole Cha
In order to qualify as a social equity applicant, applicants must
satisfy at least one of the following criteria:
1. Low income household and either:
a. A past conviction for a cannabis crime, or
b. Immediate family member with a past conviction for a
cannabis crime.
2. Low income household in a zip code identified as at least
60% according to the CalEnviroScreen for five (5) consecutive
year period and either:
a. A past conviction for a cannabis crime, or
b. Immediate family member with a past conviction for a
cannabis crime.
3. Low income household and either:
a. Five (5) years cumulative residency in a zip code identified as
at least 70% according to the CalEnviroScreen, or
b. Ten (10) years cumulative residency in a zip code identified
by CalEnviroScreen.
4. Business with no less than fifty-one percent (51%) ownership
by individuals who meet Criteria 1 and 2 above.
5. Cannabis social enterprise with no less than fifty-one percent
(51%) ownership by individuals who meet Criteria 1 and 2
above.
6. An individual with a membership interest in a cannabis
business formed as a cooperative.
Do you meet the above criteria, and want to apply as a Social
Equity Applicant?
Yes
Please state your annual income:
18654
Do you have a past cannabis conviction?
No
Do you claim eligibility based on a family member past
cannabis conviction?
No
Do you represent a cannabis social enterprise?
Yes
Do you have a membership interest in a cannabis cooperative?
No
Application Type
Proposed Location
Applicant (Entity) Name:
Carole Cha
DBA:
Hmong Cannabis Cultivators of Central California
Physical Address:City:
Fresno
State:
Ca
Zip Code:
93703
Primary Contact Same as Above?
No
Primary Contact Name:
Jenny vang
Primary Contact Title:
General manager
Primary Contact Address:
Primary Contact City:
Clovis
Primary Contact State:
Ca
Primary Contact Zip Code:
93619
Primary Contact Phone:
Primary Contact Email:HAS ANY INDIVIDUAL IN THIS APPLICATION APPLIED FOR
ANY OTHER CANNABIS PERMIT IN THE CITY OF FRESNO?:
No
Select one or more of the following categories. For each
category, indicate whether you are applying for Adult-Use (“A”)
or/and Medicinal (“M”) or both
Adult Use
Please make one selection for permit type. If making multiple
applications, please submit a new application for each permit
type.
Permit Type
Cultivation
Business Formation Documentation:
Sole Proprietorship
Property Owner Name:
--
Proposed Location Address:
--
City:
--
State:
--
Zip Code:
--
Property Owner Phone:
--
Property Owner Email:
--
Assessor's Parcel Number (APN):
--
Proposed Location Square Footage:
--
No 49
Hmong Cannabis Cultivators of Central
California
Business Plan-Cultivation
All cannabis cultivation operations will adhere to the rules and regulations set forth by the State
of California, the California Department of Food and Drug, the Bureau of Cannabis Control and
the California Department of Public Health as well as all ordinances and regulations adopted by
the City of Fresno.
All deliveries of cannabis seedlings and immature plants shall be received through the loading
bay located in the warehouse. Staff will identify the delivery driver via company issued
identification card. Staff will compare shipping invoice and purchase order receipts with the
plants/seedlings for accuracy and that all plants/seedlings are accounted for. All immature
plants/seedlings will be taken by staff and secured in the Mother Room/Vegging Room.
Immature plants will be placed into grow containers with domes to acclimate them to the
environment of the Vegging Room until it is time to transfer them to Flowering Rooms. All
rooms containing Seed, Seedlings, Immature Plants, Clones, Mother Plants and plants in the
Flowering stage will be secured at all times with Fail Secure locking mechanisms that can only
be accessed by company staff. At no time will these rooms remain unlocked for any reason to
prevent unauthorized access to cannabis plants, seeds, or seedlings. All staff will be issued
magnetic key cards to ensure access to these rooms are done so by authorized staff only.
Planned square footage of cultivation at the beginning of our operations will be no more than
3000 sf of canopy space. As our company expands and grows, we will increase the size of our
cultivating canopy space up to the maximum allowed by state law permitted for our cultivation
license type: Small indoor Cultivation License 10000 sf.
We estimate the number of harvests per year to be between 8-10 harvests per year. With 45-55
pounds of mature cannabis flower per harvest. These numbers will increase as we expand our
operations to include more flowering rooms.
The light source that will be used for each grow room will be Artificial Light Emitting Diode
(LED). LED’s are much more energy efficient and run at a much cooler temperature, reducing
the strain on the HVAC system resulting in lower energy consumption.
Cultivation waste produced by cannabis plants will be turned to mulch and mixed with potting
soils to be re-used when potting new cannabis plants. All mixed potting soils containing
cannabis waste (stalks, stems, trim, leaves) will be secured in composting bins with locks
located in a secure area of the warehouse until it is time to re-use. If they are not re-used, they
will be disposed of according to state mandated rules on disposal of cannabis waste.
Carbon Dioxide (C02) Injection systems will be used to provide cannabis plants with the
required amount of C02 required for growth. C02 tanks will be stored in the warehouse inside
locked metal cabinets displaying clearly marked signage. Depleted C02 tanks will be exchanged
with our contracted vendor for new ones as needed. Employees handling C02 tanks will be
trained on safe handling procedures and will adhere to all laws and regulations governing the
use of compressed C02 gas tanks. C02 gas tanks will be stored separate from all other materials
in the warehouse and away from areas with electrical outlets or electrical lines as well as other
chemicals or solvents.
Hmong Cannabis Cultivators of Central
California
Social Responsibility Plan
Hmong Cannabis Cultivators of Central California is committed to the City of Fresno and its
efforts to curb teen drug abuse. As a successful Social Equity business, we would commit
financial resources to nonprofit organizations that serve the South East Asian Community to
help educate our young teens and elders in the risks of drug abuse. Currently there are no
outreach programs in the Fresno area that address drug abuse for the Hmong, Lao, Thai,
Vietnamese and Cambodian population that addresses cultural barriers. We would like to
partner with an outreach program that would directly address drug abuse in these marginalized
communities that are far too often neglected and disassociated within the City of Fresno.
Cultural and ethnic stereotypes are often the leading cause of drug abuse going undetected in
these communities. The stigma of drug abuse, the need to keep it secret or keep it contained
within the family or clan do nothing to stop drug abuse, it only provides the perfect atmosphere
for it. Many residents of Asian ethnicity, especially the elders in these communities do not trust
law enforcement or government officials. They are afraid that if they try to seek help for their
child’s drug abuse, that the police or the government will come and take their children away.
This leads to continued abuse among Asian teens as they know their parents are unwilling to
seek out help from the community. More than often these elders do not understand that there
are outreach programs that can provide help to their children without involving Law
Enforcement or Child Protective Services. Educating our elders and understanding the cultural
differences in these communities would help to curb drug abuse.
We would also like to support the Police Activities League and become more active in the Asian
Community. Hmong Cannabis Cultivators of Central California would commit financial resources
to the PAL program to achieve this in hopes that it would encourage our youth to stay away
from becoming involved in gangs and gang activity. Often there are a lack of positive role
models in the Asian community which can lead to our youth feeling disenfranchised. A Positive
police presence in this community would help build trust and help break down cultural barriers
in the community.
We would also incorporate into our business model environmentally friendly technology. Our
cultivation rooms would utilize energy efficient LED’s to reduce our energy consumption. LED
lighting operates at much lower temperatures reducing the strain on the HVAC system thus
further lowering our energy demand on the power grid. LED lighting in our offices would also
help to reduce our overall use of electricity. Our irrigation system for cannabis plants
throughout the growth cycle will use automated drip irrigation systems lowering the amount of
water usage. We would also employ a recapture re-use system to collect excess water from the
plants. This water would then be filtered for sediment and re-introduced into our built-in water
tanks for re-use. This would eliminate the possibility of fertilizers being introduced into the
ground or sewer system potentially contaminating the ground water supply.
Hmong Cannabis Cultivators of Central California
1
CONFIDENTIAL - DO NOT DISSEMINATE. This business plan contains confidential, trade-secret
information and is shared only with the understanding that you will not share its contents or ideas with
third parties without the express written consent of the plan author.
Executive Summary
Opportunity
Problem
The City of Fresno is a new emerging market for the recreational cannabis industry,
and without local cultivators producing cannabis for the Fresno area customers are
left with no choice but to travel outside the city to make their purchases. This
results in lost tax revenue for the city and the people of Fresno.
Solution
Our company would be able to provide the people of Fresno with a quality grown
product at competitive prices. This would eliminate the need for distributors
operating in Fresno to travel outside the area for cannabis as our business would be
located here in the city and provide our products distributors locally.
Market
The City of Fresno has a population of over 580 thousand residents and Clovis has
over 120 thousand residents. This region of California is largely unserved when it
comes to recreational marijuana as there are currently no commercial cannabis
businesses in operation.
Competition
Our competition is well established and already operating at full capacity. But we
have the advantage of being local. Our distributors would not have to travel outside
the area to obtain cannabis flowers as our will be grown right here.
Why Us?
Our company is made up of individuals from various backgrounds. But we all share
one thing in common and that is our dedication to our company and making it
succeed. We have worked tirelessly to get to this point and will continue to strive
towards success.
Hmong Cannabis Cultivators of Central California
3
CONFIDENTIAL - DO NOT DISSEMINATE. This business plan contains confidential, trade-secret
information and is shared only with the understanding that you will not share its contents or ideas with
third parties without the express written consent of the plan author.
Opportunity
Problem & Solution
Problem Worth Solving
The city of Fresno is an emerging new market for the cannabis industry. Without
cultivators based here in the City of Fresno, distributors and manufactures will
have to travel to neighboring counties sometimes over one hundred miles away to
source cannabis and cannabis products resulting in the increase of costs to
purchase goods that will be passed down to the consumer. The city of Fresno will
also see a loss in sales tax revenue for the city as these transactions continue to
increase over time and no cultivator to replenish their shelves with product.
Our solution
Our company, Hmong Cannabis Cultivators of Central California (HC4) will fill the
need for locally grown cannabis for the city of Fresno. We will offer a variety of
different strains of cannabis grown utilizing the latest indoor cultivation strategies
and technologies to produce the finest quality cannabis products for the Fresno
area market. Eliminating the need to source cannabis from outside of the Fresno
Area.
Target Market
The city of Fresno has a population of over 530,000 people, while its sister city,
Clovis has a rapidly growing population of over 112,000. This new market, the 5th
largest city in California by population is largely untapped when it comes to
recreational cannabis. California's cannabis market is projected to explode to 7
billion dollars by 2024, 253% larger than that of Colorado. This puts Fresno in
position to become the largest cannabis market in the entire central valley that has
a population of over 7.2 million people.
Hmong Cannabis Cultivators of Central California
4
CONFIDENTIAL - DO NOT DISSEMINATE. This business plan contains confidential, trade-secret
information and is shared only with the understanding that you will not share its contents or ideas with
third parties without the express written consent of the plan author.
Competition
Current alternatives
As a cultivator in a new market here in the city of Fresno, we don't have any local
competitors. But the there are in fact many well established Cultivators through
out the state. Many of whom already have established themselves as leaders in the
cannabis market. Growers like Caliber, based out of Salinas California and Autumn
Brands from Santa Barbra have established themselves as premier cultivators. And
with Brand recognition many customers have become loyal patrons to those
brands.
Our advantages
Although it would be a challenge to try and compete with these established
cultivators, we have the advantage of being local and will be able to provide a
quality product to our distributors here at the local level.
Hmong Cannabis Cultivators of Central California
5
CONFIDENTIAL - DO NOT DISSEMINATE. This business plan contains confidential, trade-secret
information and is shared only with the understanding that you will not share its contents or ideas with
third parties without the express written consent of the plan author.
Execution
Marketing & Sales
Marketing Plan
Our marketing plan as a startup will focus primarily on the local market. Branding
ourselves as "Grown in the Central Valley for the Central Valley". As other
commercial cannabis businesses come online in the Fresno area, we would work
directly with each one of them to build an ecosystem that serves the Fresno area
market. Grown locally, manufactured locally and sold locally. Advertising would be
limited to social media, community outreach and meet and greets as we enter the
market. As we continue to grow and expand our brand we would like to advertise
using other avenues allowed by state law. We hope to work with other local
cannabis companies to establish an ongoing agreement that would benefit
everyone as we establish ourselves in the local market. We would also use Meet and
Greet events to better expose ourselves to our local customers. Getting to know
our customers on a more personal level so we can provide a better product by
understanding what their needs are will give us an advantage as we continue to
grow. We would like to see our products sold locally here in Fresno by local
cannabis retail store owners. And in doing so we can get direct feed back from the
customer as to what they like and dislike about our products. Doing this will allow
us to get a better idea of what we need to do so we can improve on our product and
devise a better plan moving forward.
Sales Plan
Our sales plan as a cultivator will be strictly wholesale to distributors. We would
contact those distributors in our area and establish a working relationship with
each one as well as those outside our area. Using Trellis Seed to Sale software will
allow us to track our plants from the day they are planted to the moment they are
sold to a distributor. Managing purchase orders with our manufacturer and using
the software to keep track of exact inventory allows us to better serve them. Trellis
allows for tracking each individual plant so we know exactly how long that plants
lifespan is as well as tracking the yield from various strains. This will allow us to
keep our manufacturers informed through out the cultivation cycle and give them
an idea of how much product we will have on hand at any given point in time.
Hmong Cannabis Cultivators of Central California
6
CONFIDENTIAL - DO NOT DISSEMINATE. This business plan contains confidential, trade-secret
information and is shared only with the understanding that you will not share its contents or ideas with
third parties without the express written consent of the plan author.
Operations
Locations & Facilities
We are looking at several options as to the location of our cannabis cultivation
facility. Fresno's thriving industrial district on the south end of the city is an ideal
location for us and would suit our needs. We would require a ten thousand square
foot facility to begin our operations. Initially we would purchase 6 Grow containers
40x8 feet inside the warehouse along with one 20X8 drying and curing container,
one 20X8 storage container. A work area to trim and package would require a
smaller space roughly 20x40 foot work area and offices. Our storage area for
supplies like fertilizers, potting soil, packaging supplies would take up the rest of
the space in the facility.
Expenses
Technology
Our cannabis cultivation facility will utilize complete environmental control
systems to maintain optimum growing conditions for cannabis plants at each stage
of growth. Heating and ventilation, humidification, dehumidification and C02
systems will be controlled by the same control system that handles irrigation,
fertigation and feed cycles. Each one closely monitored to ensure the plants have
exactly what they need to grow. Our company will also employ LED lighting
systems to reduce heat and lower energy consumption.
Hmong Cannabis Cultivators of Central California
7
CONFIDENTIAL - DO NOT DISSEMINATE. This business plan contains confidential, trade-secret
information and is shared only with the understanding that you will not share its contents or ideas with
third parties without the express written consent of the plan author.
Equipment & Tools
We will utilize pre-engineered grow rooms with complete turnkey systems to
maximize production. These grow rooms can be built to suit our needs and are
easily manufactured and assembled, usually 75% faster than conventional
construction. This will allow us to grow our business with ease as these grow rooms
can be expanded to meet our needs in a short amount of time. Reducing the down
time required for assembly means we can get back to cultivating much faster.
Our cultivation facility will also utilize a vertical growing allowing us to make better
use of our limited space. Stackable grow racks will allow us to use the square
footage in our facility in a more efficient manner by increasing our canopy space
without increasing our footprint. These growing racks allows us to easily move the
entire row or multiple rows of vertical growing racks making it easier to work.
Automated climate control systems will monitor the environment inside of the
grow rooms to ensure that temperature and humidity levels are within
the optimum range to promote healthy plant growth. Automated irrigation and
fertigation systems will automatically provide water and nutrients to the plants.
Hours of operation opening/closing procedure
As an indoor cultivator, we will be able to operate 24 hours a day. During the
daylight hours between 7 am-6 pm we will have the majority of staff on hand.
Beginning at 7am, the onsite manager or designated employee will enter the
building and check in with security. This person will then give the security officer
the key to open the lock box containing the magnetic key access cards. Magnetic
key access cards are used to gain entry into areas containing cannabis plants,
cannabis flowers or cannabis organic waste. As staff arrive they will be required to
check in with security to receive their magnetic key card. Once inside the building
they will enter into the warehouse area and begin turning on the lights and disarm
the alarm system for the warehouse. The Security officer and the designated
employee/manager will conduct a security check of the interior of the premises to
ensure that all doors and access points are still secure. Once it is clear, growers and
horticulturists will begin their daily routine of tending to the plants as needed
throughout the day. Staff will end their day around 5 pm. As they leave for the day
they will be required to check in with security and return the magnetic key access
card. Once all of the employees have gone home for the day, the security officer
and a manager/designated employee will conduct a security check of the exterior
Hmong Cannabis Cultivators of Central California
8
CONFIDENTIAL - DO NOT DISSEMINATE. This business plan contains confidential, trade-secret
information and is shared only with the understanding that you will not share its contents or ideas with
third parties without the express written consent of the plan author.
of the warehouse to ensure that the building is intact and that there has not been
any tampering with any access points that leads to the interior of the warehouse.
Once the check of the exterior is complete, the security officer and the
manager/employee will return to the warehouse and conduct a final security check
of the interior of the warehouse to ensure that all doors and access points are
properly secured. All flower rooms, drying/curing rooms and storage rooms
containing immature cannabis plants, cannabis flowers and cannabis organic waste
will be checked to ensure they are properly secured. The security officer and the
manager/employee will then exit the warehouse area, turn off the lights and arm
the alarm system. In the evening and into the late night hours there will only be
minimal security staff on hand. The security officer will conduct hourly checks of
the exterior areas of the building to ensure that all access points are
secure. Security officers will have access to a computer system to monitor the
cultivation rooms environmental control systems to ensure they are operating at
optimal levels for the cannabis plants to grow.
Daily operations
Daily operations for cultivation include watering and fertigation, low stress training
for cannabis plants to promote healthy growth. Cannabis plants will also be
trimmed occasionally for maintaining purposes. Other aspects of the daily
operations include creating clones from mother plants, potting them and placing
them into incubator pods. Cannabis plants that have entered the flowering stage
will be taken to flowering rooms and transferred into flower pots. Mature
flowers that are harvested would be taken to drying rooms to be hanged for drying.
Cannabis flowers that have been dried will be taken to a designated work area to be
trimmed and groomed. After trimming they will be placed into curing rooms to
begin the curing process. Flowers that are cured and ready to be packaged will be
taken to the designated work area and weighed. Once weighed, they will be
packaged, logged into inventory and placed into storage to await delivery to our
distributor or manufacture.
Hmong Cannabis Cultivators of Central California
9
CONFIDENTIAL - DO NOT DISSEMINATE. This business plan contains confidential, trade-secret
information and is shared only with the understanding that you will not share its contents or ideas with
third parties without the express written consent of the plan author.
Milestones & Metrics
Milestones Table
Milestone Due Date Details
Review Lease January 25, 2021
Progress review March 01, 2021 Owners and key staff
Review construction plans April 01, 2021
Obtain Equipment
Estimate
April 16, 2021
Finalize construction
plans
April 23, 2021
Finalize equipment
invoice
May 07, 2021
Review company sales
stratagey
May 24, 2021
Purchase equipment June 07, 2021
Begin construction July 05, 2021
Install equipment August 20, 2021
Initial compliance review
city
September 06, 2021
Initial Compliance review
State
September 20, 2021
Final Compliance Review
City
October 04, 2021
Final Compliance Review
State
October 18, 2021
Begin Operations October 25, 2021
Hmong Cannabis Cultivators of Central California
10
CONFIDENTIAL - DO NOT DISSEMINATE. This business plan contains confidential, trade-secret
information and is shared only with the understanding that you will not share its contents or ideas with
third parties without the express written consent of the plan author.
Key metrics
By keeping track of the growth of the plants and how well they are doing will give
us an idea of how well we are doing. If we have any deficiencies in our cultivation
methods it will be revealed in the early stages of plant growth and will allow us to
adjust our strategy accordingly. Whether it be a change in the type of fertilizer or a
change in the environmental conditions. Maximizing our yield will ultimately
increase profits, but producing a high quality product is our goal.
Hmong Cannabis Cultivators of Central California
11
CONFIDENTIAL - DO NOT DISSEMINATE. This business plan contains confidential, trade-secret
information and is shared only with the understanding that you will not share its contents or ideas with
third parties without the express written consent of the plan author.
Company
Overview
Ownership & Structure
Hmong Cannabis Cultivators of Central California is a General
Partnership consisting of two equity owners. Carole Cha is the majority equity
owner with 51% of the company and Jenny Vang is the other equity owner with
49%. There are no outside investors at this point in time but that may change in
the future as we grow the business and expand.
Company history
Hmong Cannabis Cultivators of Central California is a startup company but our
vision has been around since the adoption of the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult
Use of Marijuana Act. Since its adoption there have been lots of discussion among
our family and friends as to how we would be able to set up our own legal cannabis
business. After nearly 4 years of planning and discussion, we now have an
opportunity to make that vision a reality. And in early November 2020, our
company was born.
Team
Management team
Our team currently consists of 3 people. Jenny Vang will be directly in charge of
day to day operations such as purchasing equipment and supplies, managing daily
cultivation tasks that need to be completed. Ensuring our employees are productive
and meeting work related deadlines. Our second team member is Carole Cha. She
will be directly responsible for sales and distribution to our distributors,
remediation of cannabis flowers that do not pass testing. Carole is currently an
employee with Amazon and is currently in their distribution warehouse. Our last
team member is Peter Lee, he will be directly responsible for the companies over all
operations. Managing everything from cultivation to distribution. Implementing our
companies standard operating procedures and ensuring that we are compliant with
Hmong Cannabis Cultivators of Central California
12
CONFIDENTIAL - DO NOT DISSEMINATE. This business plan contains confidential, trade-secret
information and is shared only with the understanding that you will not share its contents or ideas with
third parties without the express written consent of the plan author.
all state and local regulations regarding the cultivation of cannabis. Integrating the
Track and Trace system into our computer systems to track cannabis inventory.
Advisors
In this digital age, information is just a click away. We plan on using that to our full
advantage as we navigate through the legalized cannabis industry. With a whole
host of digital resources at our disposal on the web, and many others in the
industry that we could connect with with ease, it will make this journey a little less
burdensome. We also would like to contract with specialists associated in regards
to cultivation and cloning. We have reached out to a number of Cultivation
Specialists including NorCal Cannabis Consultants and are looking forward to
working with them and others as we build our company.
Hmong Cannabis Cultivators of Central California
13
CONFIDENTIAL - DO NOT DISSEMINATE. This business plan contains confidential, trade-secret
information and is shared only with the understanding that you will not share its contents or ideas with
third parties without the express written consent of the plan author.
Financial Plan
Hmong Cannabis Cultivators of Central California
Community Benefits and Investment Plan
Neighborhood Compatibility Plan
As a Company we realize that once we begin operations, we will become a member of the surrounding
neighborhood and community. As such, we want to become a valuable and productive member within
the City of Fresno. Safety for our employees and the surrounding community is of utmost importance to
our Company. With the presence of our facility, and implementation of our business plans, we believe
we will be compatible with the neighborhood and will help reduce crime in the community.
Pedestrian Traffic/Vehicle Traffic
Our security team will manage the sidewalk and parking areas of the property. The security team will
provide a highly visible presence and will be a deterrent to potential criminal activity by ensuring only
those visiting the facility for legitimate business purposes are allowed entry. Our security team will be
vigilant to suspicious activity on the exterior of the premises.
Litter
Cleanliness is also managed constantly with checks throughout the business day by company staff. All
trash and litter found on the property will be collected and placed into receptacles for disposal.
Noise Management
Our Company will use best efforts to avoid any noise pollution from the facility and immediate
surrounding areas. We will implement strict rules for the staff and authorized visitors that are entering
or departing our facility. These rules include, but are not limited to:
• Restrict the volume of car stereos and/or portable sound systems while visiting the premises.
• Limiting the noise of any in-house background music that would play during business hours only.
• Warnings for unnecessary honking, tire screeching, yelling or any other noise deemed disruptive,
unnecessary or a nuisance.
Neighborhood Compatibility
The City of Fresno is understandably concerned about the impact of licensed facilities within its
neighborhoods. Our business will greatly support the community and the city in our mutual efforts to
ensure safety and security within the neighborhood we operate. We will provide an appealing addition
to Fresno by maintaining excellent relationships within the community and organize functions to
minimize impacts on the neighborhood. Our team will reach out to neighboring businesses and establish
great rapport with them. We will utilize local and neighboring business for our business needs whenever
possible.
Operational Compatibility
Our team is focused on ensuring that our facility will not be a nuisance to the neighbors or negatively
impact the neighborhood. We will not allow any loitering. We will also adhere strictly to our hours of
operation in compliance with all laws, rules, and regulations.
Odor Mitigation
Our grow rooms will be sealed environments but there will be times when these sealed rooms will be
accessed by staff to perform their duties allowing for odors to escape. Therefore, all spaces within our
facility that contain cannabis flowers will be equipped with carbon scrubbing filtration systems. These
filters are highly effective at eliminating odor that could be caused from the permeation of cannabis
flowers. The filters will include a powerful fan that will pull the air in the room towards the filter, pulling
it through carbon (a known odor eliminator), and then reintroduced back into the room (scrubbing).
All staff will be trained in the use of these carbon filtration systems and will be expected to always
maintain them. Staff will be trained on how to identify if a carbon filtration system is malfunctioning and
needs service or replacement. Carbon filters will be checked on a weekly basis by staff and logged in the
inspection log. Carbon filters will be replaced as needed to insure proper odor mitigation.
Waste Management
State law considers cannabis waste a type of organic waste, and haulers can transport and recycle it like
other organic waste. Therefore, we will either compost on-site and place them in a secure container
accessed only by employees, self-haul to a facility that recycles organic waste, or have it picked up by a
hauler that recycles organic waste.
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
2600 Fresno Street • Third Floor Jennifer K. Clark, AICP, Director
Fresno, California 93721-3604
(559) 621-8277 FAX (559) 498-1026
January 27, 2021 Please reply to:
Marisela Martínez
(559) 621-8038
Peter Lee
Hmong Cannabis Cultivators of Central California
Dear Applicant:
SUBJECT: ZONING INQUIRY NUMBER P21-00540 REQUESTING INFORMATION
REGARDING COMMERCIAL CANNABIS USES (CULTIVATION) FOR
PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2883 EAST DOROTHY AVENUE (APN 328-200-
85S)
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the allowance of commercial cannabis uses. The
requested information about a cannabis business for cultivation was analyzed using Article 27,
Chapter 15 of the Fresno Municipal Code (FMC) of the City of Fresno. Please note, all research
for this inquiry is based on existing land development of the subject property. If there are
multiple buildings on the subject property, this research was based on the address provided in
the request. This research does not take into effect of future development unless provided in
your application request. With that, research of a proposed commercial cannabis business on
the subject property conveys the following:
1. All cannabis cultivators, distributors, or manufacturers must be located on property within
the Cannabis Innovation Zone, inside a Cannabis Innovation Hub, or within one-half (½)
mile of State Route 99 between Shaw Avenue and Clinton Avenue, one (1) mile of State
Route 99 north of Shaw Avenue, or south of Clinton Avenue, or within one (1) mile of
State Route 180 west of State Route 99, must be zoned IL (Light Industrial) or IH (Heavy
Industrial), and must meet all of the requirements for development in these zones. If not
located within the Cannabis Innovation Zone, any building in which a cultivator,
distributor, or manufacturer is located shall be no closer than 1,000 feet from any
property boundary containing any of the following:
(a) Any residentially zoned parcel in the city, including any legal non-conforming
residential uses as of the date a complete commercial cannabis business permit
application is submitted;
(b) A school providing instruction for any grades pre-school through 12 (whether public,
private, or charter, including pre-school, transitional kindergarten, and K-12);
(c) A day care center licensed by the state Department of Social Services that is in
existence at the time a complete commercial cannabis business permit application is
submitted; or,
(d) A youth center that is in existence at the time a complete commercial cannabis
business permit application is submitted.
Zoning Inquiry P21-00540
2883 East Dorothy Avenue
Page 2
January 27, 2021
The subject property located at 2883 East Dorothy Avenue is a vacant lot and is located
within ½ mile of State Route 99 between East Jensen and East Dorothy Avenues, is
zoned IH, which is one of the allowable zone districts for commercial cannabis
businesses, and is not located within 1,000 feet of the aforementioned sensitive uses.
Development standards of the IH zone district are available in Sections 15-1303, 15-
1304, and 15-1305 of the FMC. The subject location meets the location restriction
requirements, per Section 15-2739.C.1.b of the FMC, for a commercial cannabis
business.
2. Prior to commencing operations, a commercial cannabis business must obtain a
Cannabis Conditional Use Permit from the Planning and Development Department per
Section 15-2739.N of the FMC.
3. There shall be permitted eight cultivators, distributors, or manufacturers located within
the Cannabis Innovation Zone, and there shall be permitted eight cultivators, distributors,
or manufacturers located inside a Cannabis Innovation Hub or within ½ mile of State
Route 99 between Shaw Avenue and Clinton Avenue, one mile of State Route 99 north
of Shaw Avenue or south of Clinton Avenue, or within one mile of State Route 180 west
of State Route 99.
Currently, there are zero cultivators, distributors, or manufacturers located in the City of
Fresno. This location requirement is satisfied for a commercial cannabis business.
Please review the entirety of Article 33, Chapter 9 (Cannabis Retail Business and
Commercial Cannabis), and Section 15-2739 (Adult Use and Medicinal Cannabis Retail
Business and Commercial Cannabis Business) of the FMC to understand other
requirements of commercial cannabis businesses, including but not limited to,
application requirements, façade design, signage, etc.
This information was researched by the undersigned per the zoning request. The undersigned
certifies that the above information contained herein is believed to be accurate and is based
upon, or relates to, the information supplied by the requestor. The City of Fresno assumes no
liability for errors and omissions. All information was obtained from public records held by the
Planning and Development Department.
A copy of the Fresno Municipal Code may be obtained by contacting the City Clerk’s office at
559-621-7650. The Fresno Municipal Code may also be searched on the Internet, free of
charge, by going to www.fresno.gov. If you have questions regarding this matter, please
contact me by telephone at 559-621-8038 or at Marisela.Martinez@fresno.gov.
Cordially,
Marisela Martínez, Planner II
Development Services Division
Planning and Development Department
Hmong Cannabis Cultivators
of Central California
6.1 Description of Property
The property we intend to lease for the purpose of cannabis cultivation is located at 2883 E. Dorothy
Ave. Fresno Ca. 93706. The property will be a 25000 Square Foot warehouse with offices, bathrooms
and employee breakrooms. The property is new construction and is scheduled to be complete late
summer 2021.
Location: On Dorothy Ave between East and Cherry Ave
Construction: Steel and Stucco
Zoning: Heavy Industrial
Property Highlights: ½ mile from freeway 99, energy efficient LED lighting, drought tolerant
landscaping, fenced yard, quality new construction, office space
designed to fit our operation.
Hmong Cannabis Cultivators of Central
California
Social Policy & Local Equity Program
We are committed to paying our employees a living wage. Starting pay for Trimmers/Post
harvesters will start at an hour. Pay for Grower/Horticulturist will begin at an
hour. Employees will be eligible for annual bonuses and base pay increases as we expand our
operations. Hourly pay rates for employees will be competitive for the Fresno area. Our
employees will also be able to participate in group health care plans that will include health
insurance, vision and dental benefits, once we have enough employees and can negotiate a
group policy plan for the company.
We are also very committed to our employees continued education and will make every effort
to aid them as they pursue higher education directly related to the cannabis industry. We will
provide for additional pay increases to their base salaries in order to retain them as employees.
Pay increases to their base salaries will be based on their highest level of education obtained
and will be reflective of their peers in the industry.
We would also give hiring preference to potential candidates who apply for a position within
our company who meet the following criteria.
(i)Annual family income below 80% AMI.
(ii) Convicted for a cannabis related crime that could have been prosecuted as a misdemeanor
or citation under current State law.
(iii) Lived in a low to moderate income census tract in the city for a minimum of three (3)
years;(iv) Veteran.
(v)Former foster home youth who was in foster care as a minor.
(vi)Unemployed.
(vii)Receiving public assistance.
Hmong Cannabis Cultivators of Central California is a small startup company founded by local
Hmong residents in the Fresno/Clovis area. Our company will be managed by the founders of
the company, Carole Cha, Jenny Vang and Peter Lee.
We currently do not have any employees, only the company founders. Carole Cha is currently
the Director of sales. She is solely responsible for all sales to our distributors and ensuring that
we have adequate cannabis flowers for our distributors. Jenny Vang is Director of Cultivation
Operations and will oversee the cultivation of cannabis at all stages of development through
harvest. Peter Lee is Director of Operations; he is responsible for ensuring that we are fully
compliant with all state and local rules and regulations regarding commercial cultivation. He
will also be responsible for implementing company policies and procedures and ensuring that
all employees are in compliance with state laws while performing their duties. He will also be
responsible for integrating the State of California’s Track and Trace system with our computers
and ensure that all employees are properly trained in its use. We plan to hire an additional 4
employees. Two Growers/Horticulturists, their duties will include maintaining the cannabis
plants through their life cycle. We will also hire 2 general labor employees to assist with daily
routine tasks that need to be completed through out the day. As our company grows, we will
add additional positions as needed. All of our employees will be residents of Fresno and the
surrounding area.