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Delegation from St. Ignatius. From left, social studies teacher Art Cecchin, students Katie Girlich, Ester Abarca, Theresa Martin, S.I. Dean of Students Bill Gotch.
SF Planning Commission approves pot club for Sunset; neighbors to appeal
May 26th, 2010
By Valerie Schmalz
The San Francisco Planning Commission voted 5-1 to approve a medical marijuana dispensary in the Sunset District, despite opposition by thousands in the neighborhood including members of the Chinese Gospel Church, located next door to the proposed site at 2139 Taraval Street, and the owners of a 7-Eleven store across the street.
Neighborhood groups say they will appeal. “We’re going to fight this,” said Dallas Udovch, president of the Taraval Parkside Merchants Association.
The Archdiocese of San Francisco Office of Public Policy and Social Concerns also submitted a letter in opposition and a delegation from St. Ignatius College Preparatory testified against the pot club.
“I’m coming back until this is dead,” said Kim Wong, a stay-at-home father to an 18-month-old, who was among about 200 opponents and about 75 supporters who waited for up to 10 hours to testify at the May 20 meeting. “I don’t think this is appropriate planning,” said Tom Orgain, a St. Gabriel parishioner and father of a St. Gabriel kindergartner who lives behind the proposed dispensary.
But Jeri Ann Wright said she believes the dispensary will help people, and said her brother died of colon cancer and a sister died of brain cancer. “My family died in a horrible way and they could have used this dispensary,” said the Sunset resident.
The medical marijuana club permit now goes to the Department of Health for another hearing and also must be approved by the city Building Department. Any neighborhood appeal would be heard by the city Board of Appeals.
The Planning Department report submitted to the Commission counted 29 existing medical marijuana dispensaries in the city, and opponents say from two to six of those offer home delivery. St. Ignatius College Preparatory Dean of Students Bill Gotch, long-time Social Studies teacher Art Cecchin and three students were among those who waited until after midnight to testify.
Greg Schoepp, who is applying for the permit for Bay Area Compassion Health Center, predicted before the hearing that the vote would go his way. “God said to me this morning, 5 to 2,” Schoepp told Catholic San Francisco.
Commissioner Michael J. Antonini recused himself from voting when the item came up on the agenda after he realized that a new patient to his dentistry practice was one of those applying for the medical marijuana dispensary. Commissioner William Lee was the sole no vote, citing “overwhelming” opposition by the Asian community.
Schoepp said his family has owned Crown Lock and Safe for more than 50 years and he is an expert in security. He said the cannabis club will have numerous high resolution cameras. “Security is what we do,” Schopp told the commissioners. Marijuana remains a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law but in 1996 California voters approved a medical marijuana law. Fourteen states and the District of Columbia have medical marijuana laws and an initiative to legalize marijuana in California is on the November ballot.
Supervisor Carmen Chu testified against the dispensary telling the commisioner: “To date our office has received 3,257 unique signatures, emails and letters in opposition to this project.”
From May 28, 2010 issue of Catholic San Francisco.
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