Pubdate: Thu, 19 Nov 2009
Source: Summit Daily News (CO)
Copyright: 2009 Summit Daily News
Contact: http://apps.summitdaily.com/forms/letter/index.php
Website: http://www.summitdaily.com/home.php
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/587
Author: Bob Berwyn
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

NO MEDICAL MARIJUANA AT SUMMIT COUNTY SKI RESORTS FOR NOW

New Regs Set Strict Limits On Dispensaries In Summit County; Planning 
Commission And Public Comment Set For Dec. 7

SUMMIT COUNTY - A new set of county land use rules would permit 
medical marijuana dispensaries in commercial districts on county 
lands and establish buffers to schools and public areas like parks.

As currently proposed, the regulations would only permit dispensaries 
in a handful of locations: Near the 7-11 north of Breckenridge, in 
the Wildernest commercial zone and in the Heeney area, for example.

That could change with any future zoning updates, and also based on 
input from the public and from the countywide planning commission, 
said planning director Jim Curnutte.

The proposed regulations are valid for county land outside town 
boundaries. They would exclude dispensaries at Keystone and Copper 
Mountain resorts by prohibiting them in mixed-use buildings that have 
a residential or hotel component.

However, the county commissioners asked planners to touch base with 
resort officals about those restrictions. If the resorts want to 
leave the door open for medical marijuana dispensaries, the rules 
could be tweaked, Curnutte said.

The proposed rules would also affect several existing growing 
operations on county land by prohibiting dispensaries on land zoned 
for agriculture (the A-1 zone).

Under the proposed county regulations, growing would only be allowed 
in dispensaries, limited by the same zoning requirements and buffers.

At least two known grow operations on county land would become 
unauthorized uses if the regulations are adopted as proposed.

"We're not allowing it in A-1 zoning for several reasons. if we allow 
it in A-1, it could allow for large-scale growing operations ... 
we're proposing that restriction because of propensity for fire, 
theft, and the potential burden on law enforcement," said Summit 
County planner Kristin Dean. "We're not sure we want Summit County to 
be known as area that allows large growing operations," she said.

In general, the county wants to be consistent with similar town 
regulations by adopting buffers to schools and public areas like parks.

Once county planners have tweaked the regulations based on feedback 
from Tuesday's work session, the next step will be a Dec. 7 review by 
the countywide planning commission.

"The most we could have in the county would be four," said assistant 
county manager Thad Noll.

County commissioner Thomas Davidson asked whether there should be a 
formal public notification process, to let neighbors know if someone 
is applying for a permit to operate a dispensary.

County planners replied that it would serve no purpose, since there 
is no associated appeal mechanism.

The permitting process could also include an up-front security 
component. Summit County Sheriff John Minor told the commissioners 
he's concerned about the potential for crime.

In some other parts of the country, robbery rates have gone up as 
criminals target both the cash and the product, he said, singling out 
Los Angeles County as an example.

Minor said the county and the Sheriff's Office should work with 
operators pro-actively to address those public safety concerns.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom