Pubdate: Mon, 31 Aug 2015
Source: Juneau Empire (AK)
Copyright: 2015 Southeastern Newspaper Corp
Contact:  http://www.juneauempire.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/549
Author: Margo Waring

MARIJUANA CONTROL IN COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL AREAS

City and Borough of Juneau committees are currently deciding how to 
accommodate and encourage a new economic and commercial activity in 
Juneau - marijuana cultivation, processing and selling. We have seen 
in the Juneau Empire some references to the issue of sales, but not 
much attention to the other aspects of this activity.

I have read the minutes of the Aug. 21, 2015 meeting of the Planning 
Commission's Title 49 subcommittee; the referenced staff report is 
not currently available to the public.

At the meeting, the T49 Committee voted to approve marijuana 
cultivation in D1 residential, rural reserve, light commercial, 
general commercial and industrial zones by conditional use permit 
(Section 14.240). Notably D1 (North Douglas, Auke Bay and Thane) was 
the only residential zoning included for marijuana cultivation. The 
proposed T49 ordinance also contains other changes regarding 
processing, testing and selling.

Let us be clear, commercial growing and processing are commercial 
activities. Cultivation of marijuana uses intensive chemical 
applications and intense lighting for most hours of the day in all seasons.

While the T49 Committee has recognized the need to protect residences 
from intrusion of this commercial activity, it has not extended that 
protection to residences in D1 or rural reserve residential areas. As 
in other residential areas, children, the environment and property 
values may all be negatively impacted by adjacent commercial 
activity. Families and property should be afforded equal protection.

I think it is appropriate to allow these uses in commercial and 
industrial zones. As yet, we really do not know how much impact these 
activities will have on adjacent properties. This is a time to learn 
and be cautious. This is a whole new area of economic activity and, 
if we find later that these activities are benign, we can reconsider 
adding other zones at a later date.

Margo Waring

Juneau
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom