COUNCIL TO TACKLE ZONING MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

Zoning for medical marijuana facilities is on the agenda for Canon
City Council's meeting Tuesday with three versions of Ordinance No.
19 being presented to the council.

The discussion began last fall when the city began the process of
determining whether and where medical marijuana facilities might be
established in the city.

It was the primary goal to keep dispensaries and associated
activities out of residential neighborhoods, according to a memo from
City Attorney John D. Havens. The second goal was to keep the
facilities in highly visible areas so law enforcement could watch them.

The differences in the three versions include designating the medical
marijuana facilities to be by permitted uses in the central and
industrial zone districts.

The second version is to allow the facilities in central, industrial
and central business districts with the third option allowing the
sale of only finished medical marijuana products in storefront
centers. All forms of medical marijuana facilities would be permitted
uses in the C and I districts, but only storefront centers would be
permitted use in the CB zone district.

According to the memo, all three versions of Ordinance 19 would
prohibit medical marijuana facilities in the TMU overlay zones, where
the underlying zone district is residential or predominately residential.

If the ordinance is approved and once it becomes effective, one of
the provisions is to lift the moratorium imposed through a previous
ordinance adopted by the council

In other business, the council will decide on whether to annex
property owned by New Horizons Ministries into the city limits. The
council also will discuss negotiation of water tap fees and
establishing guidelines to negotiate adjustments to non-residential
water tap fees.

The council will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 128 Main St.