HEARINGS SET MONDAY ON MARIJUANA BUSINESSES

SPRING LAKE -- Village Council will host public hearings Monday night
on a proposed change of use at an East Savidge Street site from
fast-food restaurant to eye care and to set regulations for medical
marijuana facilities as home businesses.

Both hearings are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Barber School, 102 W.
Exchange St.

Michigan voters approved the state medical marijuana proposal in
November 2008. Village Council is following the language of other
local municipalities to regulate primary caregiver facilities as home
occupations.

Council's proposed ordinance amendment will ensure that medical
dispensaries face strict rules regarding distances from schools,
traffic, noise and odors.

Council is not expected to vote on the home occupation amendment until
December, but is expected to take action on a planned unit development
amendment for Shoreline Vision to operate in the former G&L Chili Dogs
building, 625 E. Savidge St.

Shoreline Vision Executive Director Chris Grek said he hopes to open
the satellite office in December.

Village Planning and Zoning Administrator Kathy Staton said Shoreline
officials need site plan approval prior to opening the
2,272-square-foot Savidge Street office. The site was originally
approved for restaurant use in 2006 as part of the East Village
Development planned unit development.

Any use other than restaurant requires special approval, according to
Staton.

Shoreline Vision was established in 1996. It currently has locations
in Grand Haven, Norton Shores, North Muskegon, Fremont and Muskegon.
Shoreline Vision's surgical center is based in Muskegon.

Grek said the Spring Lake location will likely staff two eye doctors
and four support staff; and will encompass Shoreline's specialties of
glasses, contacts, Lasik surgery, and cornea and retina issues.