Santa Barbara County Officials consider Orcutt’s first marijuana business

ORCUTT, Calif.-

Santa Barbara County officials are considering an application for Orcutt's first marijuana business.

It would open up at Orcutt Hills Plaza on Clark Ave.

Residents have been blasting Facebook with both support and disapproval of the cannabis business opening. Many business owners say they don't want it, while other residents say it's a good thing.

“I know it will provide a lot of jobs and obviously contribute to a tax base,” said Orcutt resident Donna Polizzi.

But The Santa Barbara County Planning and Development Department wants to be clear. The storefront's application is still under review.

“It's too close to elementary schools. It's too close to high schools. We don't need that in this community,” said another Orcutt resident.

County Planning say if approved the storefront will not be a pot dispensary.

The applicants are just asking for a retail marijuana delivery service permit.

They say the storefront would only sell CBD products and other non-cannabis goods.

“I have no doubt that whatever business opens in Orcutt it will have been vetted, not only publicly but privately through the Planning Commission and planning process,” said Orcutt resident Joe Armendariz.

Some business owners are concerned the shop might bring traffic congestion to the area.

“I would hope that it will be a place that doesn’t heavily impact traffic and certainly not the parking because it's already such a struggle especially in Old Town Orcutt,” said Polizzi.

While others see value in it for medicinal use.

“ I think the medicinal quality of cannabis is something that is significant. And in a community like Orcutt where you have a lot of seniors, that is something I think that is going to be very important,” said Armendariz.

The Planning Department says it gave the applicants an additional list of things they must do before their application can move forward.

So for now, the fate is still uncertain.