Project Summary
The Mendocino Indian Reserve Master Project Plan is a comprehensive guide for the proposed Industrial Cultivation & Ancillary Canna-Business development on 2,000 gross acres of the 24,930-acre Mendocino Indian Reservation.
The reservation was established by President Franklin Pierce on May 22, 1856 and surveyed by the U.S. Surveyor General's Office on May 14, 1869, per an Act of Congress approved July 27, 1868. These projects will encompass the entire reservation.
The mixed-use project includes cultivation, processing, manufacturing, testing & sales of cannabis; a security operations center; an education and touring facility; restaurants; and many other uses. This Specific Plan incorporates land use and zoning regulations, infrastructure plans, design guidelines, and development approval processes.
Project Location
24,930 acres of the Mendocino Indian Reservation along the Northern California coast. The reservation encompasses land from Ten Mile Beach and Inglenook in the north, through Cleone and the MacKerricher State Marine Conservation Area, south past Glass Beach and Fort Bragg, and inland to Glen Blair and Redwood Lodge.
The Plan's objectives provide for the successful, responsive, and valuable development of this property in a manner consistent with the City of Ft Bragg General Plan and other applicable planning documents, representing a collaborative planning effort by the Mendocino Indian Tribe, Agency Tribal Nations, The City of Ft Bragg, legal counsel, property owners, designers, environmental consultants, and service agencies.
Sub-Projects
Agriculture
Agricultural crop production and onsite waste storage reservoir
Community
Police, Fire, Education, and Forest Management
Cultivation
~2,000 dedicated acres of cannabis cultivation
Education / Training
Education and touring facility, workforce development
Energy
Solar, wind, biofuel — 40MW on-site generation goal
Entertainment
Tourist-commercial generating activities
Hospitality
Restaurants and visitor services
Housing
On-site security housing, "bunkhouse" for off-duty guards
Medical
Health services and cannabis medicine research
Security
Security Operations Center, closed-loop networking
Transportation
Distribution and transport infrastructure
Total Impact
1,100+ new jobs and businesses at initial buildout
Regulatory Authority & Zoning
The Mendocino Indian Reserve Council allows cultivation of cannabis for medical and recreational use within certain Industrial Districts or Zones, with approval of a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and Medical Cannabis Regulatory Permit.
The proposed project is located on a qualifying Light Industrial (LI) zoned site. The Specific Plan addresses implementation of:
- MAUCRSA — California Senate Bill 94 (Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act)
- AUMA — Proposition 64 (Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act)
- California Government Code Section §65450 et seq. (Specific Plan authority)
Land Use Standards: 80% maximum building site coverage per Design Guidelines, approximately 20% Open Area on each parcel. Total Open Area (including roadways) will be at least 36%. The proposed use includes Industrial Park, tourist and retail commercial, on-site residential-security, on-site power generation, and industrial distribution.
Infrastructure & Utilities
Water Conservation
High-efficiency fixtures using 1/8-gallon per flush (87% reduction vs. conventional). Sensor-activated faucets reduce usage by 75% vs. 1992 EPA standards. Water Supply Assessment required.
Energy
Solar, wind, and biofuel generation. Goal: 40MW sustainable power on-site. Covered car-port solar, small wind turbines on rooftops, providing 10-40MW+ capacity.
Telecommunications
Armored fiber optic and cat7 direct lines. Private ISP through Mendocino Indian Reserve Technology, LLC. Maximum symmetrical bandwidth at a fraction of major carrier costs.
Wastewater
Onsite septic systems with nitrogen removal element approved by California Water Board. Cultivation water collected separately, clarified and reused as Landscape Irrigation or Cultivation Water.
Environmental Compliance (CEQA)
The project is subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). A Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) Addendum has been prepared addressing:
All impacts are below thresholds with mitigation. The project will not create a significant hazard to the public or environment.