Prescott Valley Commission To Discuss Medical Marijuana

Jim Finnel

Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
The Prescott Valley Planning and Zoning Commission will revisit zoning for medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivation when the panel meets Monday evening.

The Community Development Department staff has revised a draft ordinance in response to comments at the Dec. 13 study session and statements in writing afterward.

Staff has prepared the ordinance because voters statewide approved Proposition 203 on Nov. 2 to allow the use of medical marijuana. The ordinance contains seven pages of proposed regulations and calls for nonprofit entities to operate dispensaries.

The ordinance calls for requiring dispensaries to be located in commercial; general sales and services (C-2) and commercial; minor industrial (C-3) zoning districts; and at least 500 feet from each other, residential areas, schools, churches, parks and other public buildings.

It also would limit the floor area in a dispensary to 1,000 square feet and require a dispensary to be located within a permanent building, as opposed to a trailer, cargo container or vehicle. The ordinance also would allow infusion facilities - which involves preparing marijuana for use through cooking, blending and other means - within dispensaries.

Marijuana cultivation facilities would be allowed in C-3 districts and inside dispensaries. The 500-foot distance requirements also would apply to cultivation facilities.

Cultivation sites could cover a maximum of 3,000 square feet in floor space.

The ordinance also contains provisions for caregivers to grow marijuana in C-3 districts.

The Medical Marijuana Policy Project estimates 65,000 people in Arizona will be registered medical marijuana users by the end of this year, according to a letter to Community Development Director Richard Parker from Adam Trenk of the Rose Law Group in Scottsdale. He estimated Prescott Valley would have as many as 835 registered users based on the town's population.

The commission, an advisory body to the Town Council, will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the council chambers on the first floor of the Civic Center, 7501 E. Civic Circle.

Also on the agenda are public hearings on:

• A request by Tina Knoy for a zoning map change from C-2 to C-3 for 10 acres at the northwest corner of Highway 69 and Kachina Drive.

• An application from Jay Fagelman representing Northcentral University for a zoning map change from public lands-planned area development to residential service-planned area development for 50 acres a half-mile east of the intersection of Sheridan Lane and University Drive.

• A request from the Arizona Agribusiness and Equine Center for a zoning map change from C-2 planned area development to C-2 planned area development for 5 acres north of Civic Circle, east of Viewpoint Drive, south of Long Look Drive and west of Civic Drive. The center has plans to open a charter school at the site.

The meeting will close with the election of officers.


• Thanks to GuitarMan313 for submitting this article


NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: prescottdailycourier.com
Copyright: 2011 Western News&Info, Inc.
Contact: The Prescott Daily Courier
Website: Prescott Valley commission to discuss medical marijuana
 
Back
Top Bottom