Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Medical and recreational marijuana business owners may be able to start applying for land use approval from Deschutes County in early September.
The Deschutes County Commission, however, must first decide whether to lift a ban on the businesses before owners can apply.
Commissioners are scheduled to meet at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday to discuss removing the ban, or "opt out" during a work session. The ban has been in place since December, when commissioners decided they needed more time to craft pot regulations.
They adopted ordinances last month that established regulations for medical and recreational marijuana businesses. Commissioners decided to leave the ban in place until the opportunity to challenge the regulations to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals had passed. No appeal was filed with LUBA during the 21-day period, however, according to Dave Doyle, the county's legal counsel.
The Deschutes County Community Development Department has drafted a tentative schedule for when the ban might be lifted. According to a staff memo released Friday, the County Commission could consider rescinding the ban Aug. 10.
The memo suggests delaying the effective date until Sept. 8, so county planners have time to prepare for the potential influx of marijuana-related land use applications.
"We're fielding questions and inquires on a daily basis about marijuana regulations, so our best guess is there will be a significant number of these applications," said Peter Gutowsky, the county planning manager.
The development department is in the process of hiring two planners that will begin in August to assist in processing the applications.
During the monthslong process of developing the pot regulations, some rural residents voiced concerns about public safety and diminished property values, and wanted county commissioners to bring the marijuana business ban to the November election for voters to either uphold or strike down.
County Commission Chairman Alan Unger said he's pleased the rules are now in place as the process moves forward.
"We put a lot of hard work into them and tried to do what we could to recognize everybody's challenges and craft something that recognizes those," Unger said.
The staff memo states the county may hold public workshops at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Aug. 23 to inform the marijuana business community of the requirements before submitting land use applications. The workshops would provide information about application fees, the marijuana policies and the process for obtaining land use approval.
Gutowsky said the development department wants to educate interested marijuana business owners because it may be a new process for them. The workshops would be a way to minimize confusion, he said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Deschutes County To Consider Removing Ban On Pot Businesses
Author: Ted Shorack
Contact: 541-382-1811
Photo Credit: Alessandro Bianchi
Website: The Bulletin
The Deschutes County Commission, however, must first decide whether to lift a ban on the businesses before owners can apply.
Commissioners are scheduled to meet at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday to discuss removing the ban, or "opt out" during a work session. The ban has been in place since December, when commissioners decided they needed more time to craft pot regulations.
They adopted ordinances last month that established regulations for medical and recreational marijuana businesses. Commissioners decided to leave the ban in place until the opportunity to challenge the regulations to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals had passed. No appeal was filed with LUBA during the 21-day period, however, according to Dave Doyle, the county's legal counsel.
The Deschutes County Community Development Department has drafted a tentative schedule for when the ban might be lifted. According to a staff memo released Friday, the County Commission could consider rescinding the ban Aug. 10.
The memo suggests delaying the effective date until Sept. 8, so county planners have time to prepare for the potential influx of marijuana-related land use applications.
"We're fielding questions and inquires on a daily basis about marijuana regulations, so our best guess is there will be a significant number of these applications," said Peter Gutowsky, the county planning manager.
The development department is in the process of hiring two planners that will begin in August to assist in processing the applications.
During the monthslong process of developing the pot regulations, some rural residents voiced concerns about public safety and diminished property values, and wanted county commissioners to bring the marijuana business ban to the November election for voters to either uphold or strike down.
County Commission Chairman Alan Unger said he's pleased the rules are now in place as the process moves forward.
"We put a lot of hard work into them and tried to do what we could to recognize everybody's challenges and craft something that recognizes those," Unger said.
The staff memo states the county may hold public workshops at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Aug. 23 to inform the marijuana business community of the requirements before submitting land use applications. The workshops would provide information about application fees, the marijuana policies and the process for obtaining land use approval.
Gutowsky said the development department wants to educate interested marijuana business owners because it may be a new process for them. The workshops would be a way to minimize confusion, he said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Deschutes County To Consider Removing Ban On Pot Businesses
Author: Ted Shorack
Contact: 541-382-1811
Photo Credit: Alessandro Bianchi
Website: The Bulletin
