Pubdate: Mon, 12 May 2014
Source: Walla Walla Union-Bulletin (WA)
Copyright: 2014 Walla Walla Union-Bulletin
Contact:  http://www.union-bulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2619
Author: Rachel Alexander
Cited: Dayton Draft Marijuana Zoning Ordinance: http://mapinc.org/url/Ox0BN4IY

DAYTON FORGES AHEAD WITH MARIJUANA RULES

DAYTON -- Though the city's moratorium on marijuana-related 
businesses doesn't expire until Sept. 23, Dayton is moving forward 
with a draft marijuana zoning ordinance.

The proposed rules would allow marijuana retailers as a principal use 
in the central commercial zone, which includes Main Street from 
Fourth Street to the Touchet River, as well as in fringe commercial 
zones on the western edge of the city.

Marijuana producers and processors would be allowed as a principal 
use in fringe commercial and industrial zones, and production would 
also be allowed as an accessory use in agricultural-residential zones.

State regulations prohibit marijuana businesses within 1,000 feet of 
a school, playground, park, recreation center, child-care facility, 
public transit center, library or game arcade, so much of Dayton is 
off-limits regardless of zone.

"The city is small, so it is quite limiting once you start putting 
those circles around," said Dayton Planner Karen Scharer. She said it 
was likely marijuana businesses would end up on the outer edges of 
the city to comply with the 1,000-foot setback requirements.

The city would also require marijuana businesses to be licensed by 
the Washington Liquor Control Board, which has allocated only one 
marijuana retailer license to Columbia County.

The WLCB has received no applications for retailers or processors 
within Dayton or the county. One producer license application for 
B-N-B Herbs & Ranch, which lists a Dayton address, is pending.

Under Dayton's proposed rules, marijuana-related uses in commercial 
or industrial zones would have to be located entirely within an 
enclosed building, and uses in the agricultural-residential zone must 
be at least 30 feet from perimeter property lines.

Marijuana uses would also be prohibited under the existing definition 
of "home business or occupation."

Dayton does not require business permits, so marijuana businesses 
allowed as principal and accessory uses would not need a permit from 
the city to begin operations. However, the city does require a 
building permit for the construction of any new structure, which is 
reviewed by the planning and building departments.

The ordinance sets no rules for collective medical marijuana gardens, 
which are currently prohibited under the city's moratorium. Scharer 
said the planning commission did not want to regulate medical 
marijuana gardens; the gardens would be allowed once the moratorium is lifted.

The Dayton Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the 
proposed ordinance on May 20 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 111 S. First 
St., and may revise the zoning ordinance based on public comments.

If the commission receives few public comments, Scharer said it may 
act to make a recommendation to the Council at that meeting.

The Council would then consider the zoning ordinance and could hold 
another public hearing, though it is not required by law to do so. 
Once the zoning ordinance is adopted, it would lift the city's 
marijuana moratorium.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom