Pubdate: Tue, 08 Oct 2013
Source: Seattle Times (WA)
Copyright: 2013 The Seattle Times Company
Contact:  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/409
Author: Bob Young

CITY COUNCIL OKS ZONING RULES TO LIMIT AREAS, SIZE OF POT FARMS

First Big City to Craft Such Detailed Regulations

Industrial Groups Fear Pot Business Will Drive Up Rents

Pot farms of up to 10,000 square feet will be allowed in most Seattle 
industrial areas under zoning approved Monday by the City Council.

The decision marks a slight retreat by the council, which had 
approved 50,000-square-foot farms - almost the size of a football 
field - in a May committee vote.

Since then, though, the full council delayed action until it could 
see the state's rules, which now cap all growing operations for legal 
recreational pot at 30,000 square feet.

In an 8-0 vote, with Councilmember Tom Rasmussen absent, Seattle 
became the first large city in the state to prepare such detailed 
regulations for the new recreational-pot system approved by 
Washington voters last year.

But it wasn't done without some complaints by medical-marijuana 
entrepreneurs and concerns from advocates for marine-related industry.

"We are in a delicate position of trying to create a new industry," 
said Councilmember Nick Licata, who sponsored the regulations along 
with Council President Sally Clark.

The council allowed farms of up to 20,000 square feet in one 
industrial zone, called IG2.

The council "grandfathered" smaller, 5,000-square-foot growing 
operations in another industrial zone, called IG1, closest to the 
Port of Seattle and maritime businesses. But all other farms would be 
excluded from that industrial sanctuary once the rules take effect in November.

The Port of Seattle and local manufacturing and industrial groups 
opposed pot farms in that zone because maritime industries are 
limited in where they can go, but pot can be grown outside the 
industrial sanctuary, including outdoor farms in Eastern Washington.

The industrial groups said they aren't opposed to pot. But they are 
concerned that marijuana businesses could drive up rents and displace 
existing businesses.

"These new businesses will still have good options for locating in 
the city in the IG2 zone a bit farther from Port operations," said 
Port of Seattle spokesman Jason Kelly.

Growing operations also would be allowed in some commercial zones, 
but entrepreneurs have said those areas generally don't offer the 
space needed or would run afoul of state law requiring 1,000-foot 
buffers between pot businesses and venues frequented by youth.

The new rules do not ban medical-marijuana dispensaries, Licata said. 
They require the approximately 200 dispensaries now in Seattle to 
have state licenses by 2015 to remain legal within the city limits.

No such license now exists. Entrepreneur Alex Cooley called that unfair.

State lawmakers are expected to take up the largely unregulated, 
untaxed medical system next year. Former Gov. Chris Gregoire vetoed 
most of a bill in 2011 that would have put the medical system under 
tight rules, saying she didn't want state employees at risk of 
federal criminal charges.

The proposed city rules would bar growing operations in residential, 
historic and small neighborhood commercial areas.

But the rules, in mirroring medical-marijuana regulations, would 
permit growing as many as 45 pot plants in homes throughout the city.

The medical system allows patients to form marijuana collectives and 
grow as many as 45 plants. The state's new recreational system does 
not allow home cultivation.

The city's home-growing rules could undercut the state system, which 
expects retail stores to open next summer. City officials have said 
it would be up to the state to enforce its rules against recreational 
homegrowing in Seattle.

In letters to the council, neighborhood and drug-prevention groups 
said city rules could be more restrictive, particularly in areas such 
as Rainier Avenue South and Aurora Avenue North that now have a 
concentration of medical-marijuana dispensaries.

But no representatives from the groups showed up to testify.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom