Planning commission denies medical marijuana dispensary at 240 Third Street South

The Jacksonville Beach Planning Commission on July 28 denied a conditional-use application to open a medical marijuana treatment center and dispensing facility at 240 Third Street South, 3-2. The commission's vote came after more than an hour of public testimony, staff presentation and commissioners' discussion about parking, visibility and whether the number of dispensaries along the Third Street corridor fits the beach's vision.

Staff recommended approval of PC 11-25, saying the proposed dispensing facility would be a commercial retail use allowed in the C-1 zoning district and that the site already contains parking and landscaping. Christian Popoli, planning staff, told the commission the state treats dispensing facilities like pharmacies and that the use is regulated by state licensing and setback requirements under the Jacksonville Beach land development code (section 34-6-17(d)(21)).

Applicant Richard Johnston, who identified himself as a Jacksonville Beach resident and representative of the ownership group, told the commission the business holds an MMTC license and that "this will be one of the 25 licensed…