By Richard Dyer | YourValley
Existing medical marijuana dispensaries and dual-licensee facilities may be allowed to move within 1,000 feet of a like business under a plan to be decided by the Mesa City Council.
The Mesa Planning and Zoning Board on May 24 voted 5-0 on a consent agenda with other items to recommend that the city council approve changes to the zoning ordinance including modifying the spacing requirements for medical- and recreational-marijuana facilities that are permitted in the light industrial and general industrial zoning districts. Absent were board members Genessee Montes and Troy Peterson.
Medical marijuana and dual recreational/medical marijuana dispensaries must currently be separated by 5,280 feet — one mile, Assistant Planning Director Rachel Nettles said in a study session prior to the meeting.
“So once a facility gets registered with the city, then that separation comes into play and so no one within that buffer can then establish another facility,” she said.
The proposed changes to the zoning ordinance would create an exception for 12 existing marijuana facilities.
“So those are facilities that are currently registered within the city today. So these proposals would not be applicable to any new dispensary wanting to locate within the city,” Nettles said. “And the recommendation is that we allow them to be located within 1,000 feet of another medical marijuana facility or a dual-license facility if they meet certain criteria.”
