MEDICAL MARIJUANA ORDINANCE TABLED

Once again the issue of zoning for medical marijuana patients and
caregivers was tabled at the Clare City Planning Commission meeting.

Clare City Attorney Jaynie Hoerauf was at the meeting with a first
draft of proposed amendments to the City's zoning ordinances. She
outlined changes including the clarification of the definition of a
home residence, prohibiting growing marijuana as a home occupation,
dispensary business cultivation of the plant.

She said the zoning would allow possession, and cultivation of the
plants in a residential district under State laws but would stipulate
that a growing facility be "in a fully enclosed, locked facility;
would be a no-impact activity [control of glare, noise and odors];
would limit the growing facility to 12 plants per household for legal
patients and caregivers that are residents there; would not allow
transfer to other qualifying patients unless they are a resident of
the dwelling; and would prohibit commercial cultivation.

In a commercial [C-2] area a cultivation facility [or dispensary if
it is deemed legal] would be allowed "as long as it is not in
proximity to other sensitive uses," meaning a facility could not be
affiliated with another business at the same location; and not within
1,000 feet of Churches, schools, or child care facilities.

Since the requirements would limit marijuana growing facilities to
only three or four possible locations in the City, City Manager Ken
Hibl recommended adding the Industrial Park to the allowed area.

Commissioners also asked Hoerauf to add recreational sites to the
1,000 foot requirement.

Hoerauf said Commissioners should read the recently released "White
Paper," a local government view of the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act
by Gerald A. Fisher to see if their requirements conform and if there
are other issues they should address.

Commissioners also suggested a limit on the number of unrelated
adults living at the same dwelling in the residential district.

Hoerauf said she would look into that matter for the board.

She said she would include the other changes in her next draft for
the Commission.

The matter was tabled until the November meeting to allow the board
time to read the White Paper.

The only other action at the Planning Commission meeting Wednesday
evening was the approval to endorse the re-appointment of board
members Glenda Carmoney, Dave Prawdzik and Darren Action to the
board. Their terms expire in November, Hibl reported.

During Intracommission Communications, Glenda Carmoney reported that
trees on the intersection of Hemlock and Fourth Streets were a
traffic hazard and asked the City Department of Public Works to look
into the matter.