COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Coldwater City Council went against a recommendation from the city’s Planning Commission Monday night, as on a 7-2 vote they introduced an amendment to the city’s zoning ordinance, which eliminates the separation distance requirements between retail Recreational Marijuana Establishments in both the C-2 Central Business District and the C-4 General Business Districts.
The Planning Commission recommended to the City Council last week on a 6-3 vote that they remove the provision from the ordinance for allowing retail marijuana establishments in the C-2 Central Business District downtown and eliminate the separation requirement between establishments in the C-4 General Business District. Under the Planning Commission recommendation, retail marijuana facilities would only be allowed in the C-4 zoning district which is in the U.S. 12 and I-69 commercial area.
To protect the City from potential litigation and to better manage staff resources, City Attorney Megan Angell has recommended that the City not implement any form of scoring or ranking criteria for applicants seeking special use approval for marijuana businesses in the City.
Monday’s action by the Council came during a nearly two-and-a-half hour meeting which featured yet another lengthy discussion on retail recreational marijuana stores.
Jim Knaack and Chad Johnson both voted no. Mayor Tom Kramer voted yes along with John Petzko, Randall Hazelbaker, Travis Machan, Emily Rissman, Scott Houtz and Mike Beckwith. Final action is scheduled to take place during the Council’s next meeting September 28, 2020.
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