MESA CITY COUNCIL TWEAKS PROPOSED MARIJUANA ORDINANCE

The City Council decided Thursday morning it would rather see medical
marijuana dispensaries in industrial zones than in retail districts.

The council asked zoning administrator Gordon Sheffield to revise a
proposed ordinance that would govern the dispensaries, which will
begin popping up around Arizona after voter approval this fall of
Proposition 203.

Sheffield said based on its population, Mesa probably will wind up
with six to 10 dispensaries.

He said it's important for Mesa to get its rules in place early in the
year before marijuana sales begin. Sheffield's timetable calls for
final council approval on Jan. 24.

When he talked to the council about the issue in October, Sheffield
recommended that the dispensaries be limited to the C2 and C3
commercial districts. C2 allows indoor retail sales; C3 allows such
uses as car dealerships, lumber yards and body shops.

The Planning and Zoning Board endorsed that idea, along with
restrictions that would keep the shops at least a mile from each other
and prohibit them within varying distances from other uses such as
halfway houses, parks, churches and schools.

Mayor Scott Smith said, however, that some industrial zones might be a
good fit for the shops.

After about 45 minutes of discussion, the council told Sheffield to
draft rules that would allow dispensaries in C3 and industrial areas,
but not in C2 retail zones. Councilman Dave Richins was alone in
suggestion the dispensaries be confined to office districts.

"It's just like a doctor's office," he said. "They're selling medical
marijuana. So people are coming and going from a doctor's office all
day long. It should be treated the same as a medical facility."

Sheffield argued for allowing the shops in retail rather than
industrial areas because Mesa police have been pushing for stores to
adopt crime-reducing layouts - something that may not be easy for
industrial buildings.