Sept 11th 2025 letter to Planning Commissioners: SOMETHING DOESN'T SMELL RIGHT

Letter to Planning Commissioners on the inconsistent position of the County's odor expert

From: Neighborhood Coalition <sonomaneighborhoodcoalition@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2025 8:36 AM
To:Tom.Bahning@sonomacounty.gov; Tim.Freeman@sonomacounty.gov; larry.reed@sonomacounty.gov; Webster.Marquez@sonomacounty.gov; Shaun.McCaffery@sonomacounty.gov; PlanningAgency@sonomacounty.gov; cannabis@sonomacounty.gov
Subject: SOMETHING DOESN'T SMELL RIGHT

Date: September 11, 2025

To: Planning Commissioners 

SOMETHING DOESN’T SMELL RIGHT

TRINITY CONSULTANTS’ CONCLUSION ABOUT CANNABIS ODOR TRAVEL IN SONOMA COUNTY DIRECTLY CONFLICTS WITH THEIR OPINION OF THE SAME ISSUE FOR YOLO COUNTY.

FACT: Trinity Consultants prepared the 2019 Cannabis EIR on air quality for Yolo County and the 2025 Cannabis EIR on air quality for Sonoma County.

FACT:  In Yolo County Trinity reported that odor could be detected at 1,000 to 2,000 feet and recommended greater setbacks. 

FACT:  Yolo County set their setbacks at 1,000 feet but this figure is disputed as too low and is currently in litigation.

FACT:  Indirect contrast, for Sonoma County, Trinity Consultants reported that odor is NOT detectable even at 100 ft.

FACT: Based on Trinity Consultants’ “conclusions,” Permit Sonoma is recommending a 100-foot setback for approximately 15,000 homes located on Ag or RRD parcels.

FACT:  Yolo County’s average elevation is 384 feet while Sonoma County’s average elevation is 620 feet. There is no difference in the elevations to explain the fantastically different opinions by Trinity Consultants. Air is air and Trinity has offered no plausible rationale for their vastly differing opinions for the two counties.

CONCLUSION: Since the distances cannabis odors travel do not change from county-to-county, Trinity’s theoretical modeling has no basis in fact. Their inconsistent and contradictory opinions can only be the result of reaching “conclusions” requested by the agency retaining them. These inconsistent opinions demonstrate Trinity Consultants are neither scientific nor independent in their analyses. Instead, they appear to be “just following orders,” in this case, those from Permit Sonoma.

Respectfully submitted,

Nancy and Brantly Richardson, Communication Directors

Neighborhood Coalition <sonomaneighborhoodcoalition@gmail.com 

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