MEDI-POT DECISION PUT OFF TO 2010

After months of debate and deferrals, Nevada City Council members
agreed to postpone any decision on opening pot shops in town for
another year.

After debating the issue, the council voted 4-1 to extend the
moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries until Aug. 11, 2010,
allowing them more time to research the subject.

Only Councilwoman Barbara Coffman opposed the extension.

We have so overdone this," said Coffman, who was visibly upset with
the council's direction.

Arguing too much regulation already has been written into the draft
ordinance, Coffman said, "I'm not interested in anything beyond six
months."

Councilman Robert Bergman, who has spearheaded the council's research
on the issue, boiled down the matter to whether a dispensary is a
for-profit venture.

We need to continue to explore a dispensary as proposed to its intent,
facilitating medical needs for those who need it," Bergman said.

This second extension, which is the limit allowed the council, comes
on the heels of a 90-day moratorium that just ended.

Harry Bennett, a Nevada City resident and one of three people who has
proposed opening a dispensary in town, came to the council with a
petition of support.

Councilman David McKay was out of the area, but present for the vote
by telephone.

Grass Valley and Nevada County have enacted similar
moratoriums.

Hurst Ranch: Back to the drawing board

The council rejected developer Stan Hoer's proposal to annex 91 acres
for his proposed Hurst Ranch housing project, with several council
members advising him to "save his money."

I think we should just make a decision and tell the developer to
wait," said Councilwoman Sally Harris.

Members of the public and council members alike were not pleased with
the increase in traffic the project's 75 households would create on
Gracie Road, and said plans to use Silva Road as secondary access were
not sufficiently defined.

People also questioned Hoer's proposal to connect residences to the
city sewage system.

The council doesn't want you to spend time and money when it's not a
good plan right now," Mayor Reinette Senum said. "The timing is not
well."

They asked Hoer to speak to neighboring property owners first and come
back when he had refined his plan.