Central Valley Growers Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration

The Central Valley Growers project involves the development of a mixed-light cannabis cultivation facility located on a 12.1-acre portion of a 53-acre parcel in Patterson, Stanislaus County, California. The project scope includes the construction of 36 greenhouses providing a 22,000-square-foot canopy, totaling 29,880 square feet, alongside a 7,470-square-foot warehouse for office, storage, and processing activities. Development will also include accessory facilities such as driveways, parking, fencing, landscaping, and water tanks. While no existing structures will be demolished, the project requires the removal of mature almond trees from the current orchard. Construction and improvements are planned to occur in phases over a three-to-five-year period, with specific schedules outlined for site preparation, building construction, paving, and architectural coating throughout 2025 and 2026. The project is being led by the California Department of Cannabis Control and has undergone environmental review via an Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration to ensure compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act. This review addressed potential impacts on air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, and hydrology. Key environmental considerations include the protection of special-status species, such as the western burrowing owl, and the management of impacts to fish and wildlife resources as overseen by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Mitigation measures have been established to address significant effects on biological and cultural resources, including worker training and pre-construction surveys. Operational logistics include approximately 15 monthly delivery truck trips for supplies and the distribution of cannabis products via state-licensed commercial distributors.