Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Yakima, Washington - Two of the more contentious issues to facing the city go before the Yakima City Council when it meets Tuesday evening.
Council members will hear about a cost cutting idea for the proposed downtown plaza between South Third and Fourth Streets. They'll also consider recommendations on how to regulate marijuana operations in the city.
The council, which voted in favor of repealing the ban on recreational production and sales in the city, will consider a set of recommendations hammered out by the planning commission.
After a series of public hearings, the commission has put forth several recommendations, which the council has the option to adopt but is not required to follow. Among the recommendations:
- Production and processing of marijuana would be allowed only in areas zoned for Light Industrial (M-1) and Heavy Industrial (M-2).
- Retail sale of recreational marijuana would be permitted only in areas zoned as Local Business District (B-2), Large Convenience Center (LCC), Central Business District (CBD), General Commercial (GC), and Regional Development District (RD).
- Buffer zones of 1,000 feet would be required between marijuana operations and protected facilities, such as schools, playgrounds, parks and child-care facilities.
Council members will also hear a report on how city engineers spent the last month working with the plaza architects to find more than $2 million in savings, switching to cheaper materials and cutting unnecessary features from the original $14 million design of the proposed plaza.
Whether the lower cost is enough to satisfy plaza opponents, who often cite the loss of parking as their main objection, remains to be seen.
While most of the previous council supported the plaza, the new council is split. In May it voted to scrap the $14 million design. But a last-minute vote allowed for a compromise, with council members asking the design team to come back with less-expensive options.
Tuesday's meeting gets underway at 6 p.m. at the Yakima Convention Center.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Yakima City Council Will Talk Plaza, Pot At Tuesday Meeting
Author: Yakima Herlad-Republic
Contact: 509-248-1251
Photo Credit: Rob Schumacher
Website: Yakima Herald
Council members will hear about a cost cutting idea for the proposed downtown plaza between South Third and Fourth Streets. They'll also consider recommendations on how to regulate marijuana operations in the city.
The council, which voted in favor of repealing the ban on recreational production and sales in the city, will consider a set of recommendations hammered out by the planning commission.
After a series of public hearings, the commission has put forth several recommendations, which the council has the option to adopt but is not required to follow. Among the recommendations:
- Production and processing of marijuana would be allowed only in areas zoned for Light Industrial (M-1) and Heavy Industrial (M-2).
- Retail sale of recreational marijuana would be permitted only in areas zoned as Local Business District (B-2), Large Convenience Center (LCC), Central Business District (CBD), General Commercial (GC), and Regional Development District (RD).
- Buffer zones of 1,000 feet would be required between marijuana operations and protected facilities, such as schools, playgrounds, parks and child-care facilities.
Council members will also hear a report on how city engineers spent the last month working with the plaza architects to find more than $2 million in savings, switching to cheaper materials and cutting unnecessary features from the original $14 million design of the proposed plaza.
Whether the lower cost is enough to satisfy plaza opponents, who often cite the loss of parking as their main objection, remains to be seen.
While most of the previous council supported the plaza, the new council is split. In May it voted to scrap the $14 million design. But a last-minute vote allowed for a compromise, with council members asking the design team to come back with less-expensive options.
Tuesday's meeting gets underway at 6 p.m. at the Yakima Convention Center.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Yakima City Council Will Talk Plaza, Pot At Tuesday Meeting
Author: Yakima Herlad-Republic
Contact: 509-248-1251
Photo Credit: Rob Schumacher
Website: Yakima Herald
