Source

Mesa Council tweaks proposed marijuana ordinance

by Gary Nelson - Dec. 10, 2010 03:27 AM

The Arizona Republic

The City Council decided Thursday morning it would rather see medical marijuana dispensaries in industrial zones than in retail districts.

The council asked zoning administrator Gordon Sheffield to revise a proposed ordinance that would govern the dispensaries, which will begin popping up around Arizona after voter approval this fall of Proposition 203.

Sheffield said based on its population, Mesa probably will wind up with six to 10 dispensaries.

He said it's important for Mesa to get its rules in place early in the year before marijuana sales begin. Sheffield's timetable calls for final council approval on Jan. 24.

When he talked to the council about the issue in October, Sheffield recommended that the dispensaries be limited to the C2 and C3 commercial districts. C2 allows indoor retail sales; C3 allows such uses as car dealerships, lumber yards and body shops.

The Planning and Zoning Board endorsed that idea, along with restrictions that would keep the shops at least a mile from each other and prohibit them within varying distances from other uses such as halfway houses, parks, churches and schools.

Mayor Scott Smith said, however, that some industrial zones might be a good fit for the shops.

After about 45 minutes of discussion, the council told Sheffield to draft rules that would allow dispensaries in C3 and industrial areas, but not in C2 retail zones. Councilman Dave Richins was alone in suggestion the dispensaries be confined to office districts.

"It's just like a doctor's office," he said. "They're selling medical marijuana. So people are coming and going from a doctor's office all day long. It should be treated the same as a medical facility."

Sheffield argued for allowing the shops in retail rather than industrial areas because Mesa police have been pushing for stores to adopt crime-reducing layouts - something that may not be easy for industrial buildings.