Jacob Bell
New Member
Denver City Council members reached a tentative compromise Monday over what to do with medical-marijuana-growing facilities that aren't located where they're supposed to be.
The city estimates as many as 50 growing facilities are in areas it was OK to be when they opened but not after the zoning changed. Some council members wanted those facilities to move. Others wanted them grandfathered in.
The compromise allows the facilities to remain in place for two years, after which they will have to go to a public hearing to decide whether they can stay. The resolution was hashed out by Council President Chris Nevitt and Councilwoman Judy Montero, who had offered the competing proposals.
"It's not where we started," Nevitt said at a Monday meeting of the City Council's Special Issues Committee, where council members approved the compromise. "But this is definitely something each of us is happy to live with."
The compromise appears to have headed off a potentially nasty fight on the council between supporters of medical-marijuana businesses and those who want to see greater restrictions placed on them.
"I think two years is a good compromise to engage the community and give them a voice," Councilman Michael Hancock said.
But it didn't please everyone. Councilman Doug Linkhart said it was wrong to place in peril businesses that followed all the rules when opening.
"Shutting a business down, or potentially shutting it down, after two years is unprecedented in our city," he said.
Under the deal, owners of the grow facilities in the barred zones would have to appear before an excise and licensing hearing when they renew their licenses. Neighborhood organizations would be notified of the hearing and members of the public would be able to raise an objection to the facility.
Also Monday, the council committee members approved regulations that would prohibit medical-marijuana dispensaries from operating near drug-treatment facilities or in neighborhood pocket retail districts. The dispensaries already within those areas would go through the same license-renewal hearing process that the council approved for grow facilities in the wrong zoning.
The regulations still need final approval by the full council.
Medical-marijuana business advocates expressed concern the regulations would stifle the industry's growth.
"The council should carefully consider any proposed ordinance or regulation that would affect not only property owners and businesses, but the local economy as a whole," said Norton Arbelaez, the chairman of the Medical Marijuana Industry Group, in a statement.
News Hawk- GuitarMan313 420 MAGAZINE
Source: denverpost.com
Author: John Ingold
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: The Denver Post
Website: Denver City Council makes compromise on zoning issues for medical-marjiuana growing facilities
The city estimates as many as 50 growing facilities are in areas it was OK to be when they opened but not after the zoning changed. Some council members wanted those facilities to move. Others wanted them grandfathered in.
The compromise allows the facilities to remain in place for two years, after which they will have to go to a public hearing to decide whether they can stay. The resolution was hashed out by Council President Chris Nevitt and Councilwoman Judy Montero, who had offered the competing proposals.
"It's not where we started," Nevitt said at a Monday meeting of the City Council's Special Issues Committee, where council members approved the compromise. "But this is definitely something each of us is happy to live with."
The compromise appears to have headed off a potentially nasty fight on the council between supporters of medical-marijuana businesses and those who want to see greater restrictions placed on them.
"I think two years is a good compromise to engage the community and give them a voice," Councilman Michael Hancock said.
But it didn't please everyone. Councilman Doug Linkhart said it was wrong to place in peril businesses that followed all the rules when opening.
"Shutting a business down, or potentially shutting it down, after two years is unprecedented in our city," he said.
Under the deal, owners of the grow facilities in the barred zones would have to appear before an excise and licensing hearing when they renew their licenses. Neighborhood organizations would be notified of the hearing and members of the public would be able to raise an objection to the facility.
Also Monday, the council committee members approved regulations that would prohibit medical-marijuana dispensaries from operating near drug-treatment facilities or in neighborhood pocket retail districts. The dispensaries already within those areas would go through the same license-renewal hearing process that the council approved for grow facilities in the wrong zoning.
The regulations still need final approval by the full council.
Medical-marijuana business advocates expressed concern the regulations would stifle the industry's growth.
"The council should carefully consider any proposed ordinance or regulation that would affect not only property owners and businesses, but the local economy as a whole," said Norton Arbelaez, the chairman of the Medical Marijuana Industry Group, in a statement.
News Hawk- GuitarMan313 420 MAGAZINE
Source: denverpost.com
Author: John Ingold
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: The Denver Post
Website: Denver City Council makes compromise on zoning issues for medical-marjiuana growing facilities
