Policy Direction
Commercial
Cannabis
Business Permits
December 18, 2023
Cannabis Ordinance Direction and Updates
° March 2023 - Step 1 - Council expressed interest in potential modifications – proposed two-step process
• Prepare ordinance to expand retail permits from 5 to 10 • Updates to allow for change of location during an appeal and cleanup from 2021 were approved
• Consider Consumption Lounges
° July 2023 – Consideration of expanding retail permits and ownership updates - Council decided to not expand number of permits ° November 2023- Step 2
Step 2 – Ordinance Direction
° Consumption Lounges – limited to retail permits, only 5 within City • Recommendation - Seek input from current retail permit holders to determine interest in seeking additional permits from state, modify ordinance based on interest ° Modifications to Non – Retail cannabis permitting
• Recommendation – modify ordinance to permit through a Site Plan approval process ° Establishing Process to allow for scoring changes
• Recommendation – modify ordinance to allow for scoring changes through the merit process based on error, information clarification – confirmation or similar circumstances Step 2 Continued
° Clarify timing of Qualified Commercial Cannabis Application List • Recommendation – current timing does not consider an appeal process ° Modify Ordinance into a Separate Zoning Chapter – currently under Special Land use Regulations
° Other Options
• Previously discussed allowing operations in “City Center” • Others
Priority
1. Consumption Lounge interest from retail operators
2. Modification to non-retail permitting
3. Process to address scoring updates
4. Clarifying Timing to also address appeal process
5. Create a new separate Zoning Chapter