Palm Beach is taking steps now to ban – or at least strongly discourage – pot stores on the island should voters approve a constitutional amendment this November legalizing medical marijuana in Florida.
The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended Tuesday that the Town Council pass regulations prohibiting medical marijuana treatment centers and dispensaries on the island, as well as cannabis cultivation.
But, if state law preempts the prohibition, the commission also is recommending that the council adopt rules that would strictly regulate marijuana stores. The council, its boards, staff and Town Attorney John Randolph have been discussing a moratorium on medical marijuana sales for months, citing safety concerns.
Zoning Administrator Paul Castro told the board hes already received a phone call from someone interested in opening a pot dispensary on the island.
So I think its very beneficial that we put something on the books, he said. Our intent is to strongly regulate this type of facility.
Castro said he modeled the proposed zoning regulations after an ordinance adopted in the village of Palm Springs. He said other municipalities have adopted similar rules.
The towns proposed rules would allow pot stores only as a special exception within the towns commercial town-serving district, which includes the Royal Poinciana Way and South County Road shopping areas and an area in the South End near BankUnited. The council grants special exceptions. The operator would have to prove the store is town-serving, meaning it serves customers who visit, live or work in the town.
The stores would have to meet special exception criteria, plus follow proposed strict guidelines for building size and location, parking, operating hours, security and other standards.
Under the proposed regulations, no treatment center or dispensary would be allowed within 1,000 feet of a school, church, child care facility or park; within 2,500 feet of another center or dispensary; or within 100 feet of a property zoned for residential use.
The store would have to be a freestanding building on at least a 20,000-square-foot lot that fronts a main street. It couldnt have drive-through or delivery service and would have to display prominently its state licenses, town business tax receipt and name of the store owner and its designated physician. Hours would be limited to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The owner would have to install an alarm system and hire a uniformed, armed security guard. Patients wouldnt be allowed to smoke or drink alcohol on site or on neighboring parking areas, sidewalks or right-of-way.
We made it as restrictive and controlling as we possibly could, Castro said. The only reasonable location that I can think of would be in the south part of town near the City of Lake Worth city limits, where you could have such a facility on the outskirts of the Fairfield Inn.
Vice Chairman Lew Crampton, who lives in the South End, said its good the proposal bristles with complications.
All we can do is make it look as difficult as possible to the entrepreneur whos thinking of locating his or her facility somewhere, he said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker
Full Article: Strict Rules On Medical Marijuana Stores Proposed In Palm Beach
Author: Aleese Kopf
Contact: Palm Beach Daily News
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Website: Palm Beach Daily News
