The Caon City Planning Commission on Tuesday agreed to recommend to the Caon City Council an ordinance that would allow community marijuana cultivation facilities as a use by special review.
The recommendation would add a new chapter to the Municipal Code.
A city council-appointed marijuana regulation committee presented the draft ordinance that would allow for a maximum of three marijuana cultivation facilities in the city.
Caon City Councilman Jim Meisner, who also served on the marijuana regulation committee, said the goal of the ordinance is to help get marijuana plants out of residences and into a controlled environment, and more importantly, away from children.
Commissioner Gregory Carlson said he strongly is in favor of the ordinance because it’s better than the current "status quo" and marijuana growth is more appropriate in an industrial zone rather than in neighborhoods.
If approved, the facilities would be in the City of Caon City’s boundaries, but residents within the boundaries of the Caon City Area Fire Protection District would be eligible tenants.
City Administrator Tony O’Rourke said potential applicants will undergo significant and constant scrutiny, perhaps more than any other business with the exception of a liquor license.
As the ordinance is proposed, the community marijuana cultivation facilities would be restricted to the Light Industrial District as a use permitted by special review. The facility would not be allowed within 1,000 feet of a school, park or childcare facility and the cultivation area could not exceed 75 percent of the licensed facility.
The proposed ordinance also recommends a six plant limit for individual recreational and medicinal grows, and an individual or caregiver could grow up to 33 plants based on a physician’s recommendation. No on-site consumption of marijuana or alcohol would be allowed, and hours of operation are limited to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.
If approved, the ordinance must be reviewed by the city council every two years.
If approved, Rooms to Grow, a facility that allows the cultivation of marijuana by individuals for personal and medicinal use, would be grandfathered as one of the three randomly selected applications to move forward into Phase 2 of the licensing process.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker
Full Article: Cañon City Planning Commission Recommends Pot Ordinance
Author: Carie Canterbury
Contact: (719) 275-7565
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Daily Record
