Council sets Feb. 24 public hearing on proposed rules for cannabis facilities

The Brooklyn City Council announced a public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. on Feb. 24, immediately before the regular council meeting, on an ordinance that would amend the city’s planning and zoning code to regulate certain medical marijuana and adult-use cannabis facilities.

The ordinance was listed on the agenda for second reading during the meeting. Council said the hearing will provide residents the opportunity to comment on the proposed changes to the Planning and Zoning Code; details of the ordinance language and specific regulatory provisions were placed on the meeting docket for public review but were not read in full during the council floor discussion.

Mayor Van Kirk flagged ongoing state-level legislative activity that could change how local tax revenue from marijuana sales is allocated. “I would just encourage them to vote this legislation down. There’s just too much uncertainty right now,” the mayor said in his report, referring to proposed state legislation that may eliminate the local share of marijuana taxes; council did not vote on the ordinance at this meeting and deferred public comment to the scheduled Feb. 24 hearing.

City staff and the planning commission will be available at the public hearing to take comments and answer procedural questions; the full ordinance text is available on the city’s online agenda portal for residents seeking details ahead of the hearing.