IN A 4-2 VOTE THURSDAY THE SANTA CRUZ PLANNING COMMISSION DENIED THE PROPOSED RIVER STREET MEDICAL MARIJUANA GROW AND DISPENSARY. THE PLAN WAS STRONGLY OPPOSED BY NEIGHBORS WHO BELIEVE THE PROBLEM WITH HEROIN IN THE AREA WOULD ONLY BE EXACERBATED BY THE DISPENSARY. THE DENIAL CAN BE APPEALED TO THE Santa Cruz CITY COUNCIL. THE COLLECTIVE REQUIRED A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO OPERATE WITHIN 600 FEET OF A RESIDENTIAL ZONE, AND THERE ARE MORE THAN TWO DOZEN UNITS ON THREE SIDES OF THE BUILDING AT 1321 RIVER STREET.
