Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Effective immediately medical marijuana dispensaries can set up shop within the town limits provided they comply with restrictions imposed by Town Council, which in a split vote approved an ordinance allowing the establishments.
The council voting 3-2 Oct. 3 enacted an ordinance allowing the dispensaries in commercial general, commercial intensive and planned unit development zoning districts within the town limits. The ordinance bans those businesses from locating within 500 feet of a school or another pharmacy/medical marijuana dispensary.
Orange Park became the first, and potentially only, Clay County community to allow medical marijuana dispensaries and treatment centers,
Voting to allow the dispensaries under restrictions specified in the ordinance were Mayor Scott Land and council members Connie Thomas and Alan Watt.
"This is the right thing to do. It's what the people voted for in this county and in this town. And it puts us in control of it," Watt said.
Watt noted voters in Clay County as well as statewide overwhelming approved legalization of medical marijuana in the Nov. 8, 2016 general election. Watt said he was comfortable with the safeguards built into the ordinance. He emphasized the council – via the restrictions contained in the measure – will control the operation of the dispensaries.
Dissenting were Vice Mayor Gary Meeks and Councilman Ron Raymond, who repeated previous arguments that the issue is a Pandora's box.
"I have no moral issue with the marijuana as a medical treatment. But I believe our town is too small. ... I'm saying we've got way more questions about this than I'm comfortable with because we really don't know what's going to happen," Raymond said.
Under Florida law, medical marijuana dispensaries must be treated as regular pharmacies for zoning purposes. That means wherever a regular pharmacy is allowed, so, too, is a medical marijuana dispensary.
The Orange Park ordinance bans pharmacies including medical marijuana dispensaries from commercial neighborhood zoning districts, which typically include convenience stores and office space.
Two residents spoke about the measure during a public hearing right before the council vote. Barbara Davidson, respected as a community advocate and government watchdog, urged the council to keep the dispensaries out of planned unit development (PUD) zoning districts.
"This ordinance, in my opinion, is lacking in transparency in that we have in the [town] code a total of 12 zoning districts. Five of those are residential. That leaves seven. One of those is government and that leaves six. This ordinance addresses five," said Davidson, noting the planned unit development zoning district isn't specifically mentioned in the ordinance.
Davidson continued, pointing out that a planned unit development "can have anything that is permitted anywhere."
She said the definition of a PUD, she said, shall mean the development of land under unified control, which is planned and developed as a whole in a single or programmed series of operations with uses and structures substantially related to the character of the PUD. It must also include a program for the provision, maintenance and operations of all areas, improvements, facilities and necessary services for the common use of all occupants there, Davidson said.
"Respectfully, I do not see how the pharmacy for medical marijuana would be appropriate for PUD. And the way this ordinance is written, they would be entitled to go into a PUD," said Davidson, asking council to modify the ordinance to ban dispensaries from planned unit developments.
Frank Ricketts asked for clarification about whether the dispensaries would be banned from locating within 500 feet of churches.
Town Attorney Sam Garrison explained under state law, churches are not included in that 500 foot buffer zone. But if the church includes a school — as defined by Florida law — the dispensary wouldn't be allowed within 500 feet of that school, Garrison said.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Orange Park OKs medical marijuana dispensaries | Firstcoastnews.com
Author: Teresa Stepzinski
Contact: Contact Us | Firstcoastnews.com
Photo Credit: FREDERIC J. BROWN
Website: Home | Firstcoastnews.com
The council voting 3-2 Oct. 3 enacted an ordinance allowing the dispensaries in commercial general, commercial intensive and planned unit development zoning districts within the town limits. The ordinance bans those businesses from locating within 500 feet of a school or another pharmacy/medical marijuana dispensary.
Orange Park became the first, and potentially only, Clay County community to allow medical marijuana dispensaries and treatment centers,
Voting to allow the dispensaries under restrictions specified in the ordinance were Mayor Scott Land and council members Connie Thomas and Alan Watt.
"This is the right thing to do. It's what the people voted for in this county and in this town. And it puts us in control of it," Watt said.
Watt noted voters in Clay County as well as statewide overwhelming approved legalization of medical marijuana in the Nov. 8, 2016 general election. Watt said he was comfortable with the safeguards built into the ordinance. He emphasized the council – via the restrictions contained in the measure – will control the operation of the dispensaries.
Dissenting were Vice Mayor Gary Meeks and Councilman Ron Raymond, who repeated previous arguments that the issue is a Pandora's box.
"I have no moral issue with the marijuana as a medical treatment. But I believe our town is too small. ... I'm saying we've got way more questions about this than I'm comfortable with because we really don't know what's going to happen," Raymond said.
Under Florida law, medical marijuana dispensaries must be treated as regular pharmacies for zoning purposes. That means wherever a regular pharmacy is allowed, so, too, is a medical marijuana dispensary.
The Orange Park ordinance bans pharmacies including medical marijuana dispensaries from commercial neighborhood zoning districts, which typically include convenience stores and office space.
Two residents spoke about the measure during a public hearing right before the council vote. Barbara Davidson, respected as a community advocate and government watchdog, urged the council to keep the dispensaries out of planned unit development (PUD) zoning districts.
"This ordinance, in my opinion, is lacking in transparency in that we have in the [town] code a total of 12 zoning districts. Five of those are residential. That leaves seven. One of those is government and that leaves six. This ordinance addresses five," said Davidson, noting the planned unit development zoning district isn't specifically mentioned in the ordinance.
Davidson continued, pointing out that a planned unit development "can have anything that is permitted anywhere."
She said the definition of a PUD, she said, shall mean the development of land under unified control, which is planned and developed as a whole in a single or programmed series of operations with uses and structures substantially related to the character of the PUD. It must also include a program for the provision, maintenance and operations of all areas, improvements, facilities and necessary services for the common use of all occupants there, Davidson said.
"Respectfully, I do not see how the pharmacy for medical marijuana would be appropriate for PUD. And the way this ordinance is written, they would be entitled to go into a PUD," said Davidson, asking council to modify the ordinance to ban dispensaries from planned unit developments.
Frank Ricketts asked for clarification about whether the dispensaries would be banned from locating within 500 feet of churches.
Town Attorney Sam Garrison explained under state law, churches are not included in that 500 foot buffer zone. But if the church includes a school — as defined by Florida law — the dispensary wouldn't be allowed within 500 feet of that school, Garrison said.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Orange Park OKs medical marijuana dispensaries | Firstcoastnews.com
Author: Teresa Stepzinski
Contact: Contact Us | Firstcoastnews.com
Photo Credit: FREDERIC J. BROWN
Website: Home | Firstcoastnews.com
