EASTHAMPTONÂ — The Planning Board hopes to wrap up its discussion and debate on zoning for recreational marijuana Tuesday night, and send its final proposal to the City Council.
The board has been discussing how best to accommodate and regulate marijuana businesses for months, following Massachusetts’ decision to legalize recreational cannabis.
A draft ordinance, available on the city’s website, defines “marijuana establishment” as any “marijuana cultivator, independent testing laboratory, marijuana product manufacturer, marijuana retailer, or any other type of licensed marijuana business.”
The ordinance bans such establishments within 200 feet of any child care center or school, says no marijuana products or paraphernalia shall be visible from outside the building, and requires odor control technology.
The ordinance would require organic growing methods: “No pesticides, insecticides, or other chemicals shall be used in the cultivation of marijuana.”
Business signage will be beholden to regulations expected from the state’s Cannabis Control Commission.
City Planner Jessica Allan marked some of the provisions as needing greater discussion by the City Council through its public hearing process.
The high intensity of energy use required by cultivation facilities is also considered. A provision would require establishments to offset half of their energy use by on-site generation or renewable energy credits. Another would have all applicants submit an energy use plan with an eye toward conservation and efficiency.
Under the zoning proposal, a security plan would be part of any application for a city permit.
A use table shows marijuana retail businesses allowed by special permit in the downtown business, highway business, and mill industrial zones. Cultivators, manufacturers, and manufacturers would be limited to the industrial or mill industrial zones.
Marijuana establishments would not be permitted as a “major home occupation,” and the draft ordinance explicitly prohibits on-site consumption.
“No marijuana shall be smoked, eaten, or otherwise consumed or ingested within any type of state licensed marijuana establishment,” the ordinance reads.
Any zoning change will ultimately need approval by two thirds of the nine-member City Council. The council is expected to hold its own public hearing on the matter.
credit:masslive.com
