Bel Air moves to tighten cannabis dispensary spacing; plans emergency ordinance
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Sign Up Free
Summary
Following a June 10 work session, Bel Air commissioners directed staff to pursue an ordinance to increase cannabis dispensary separation — proposing a half-mile limit — and to fast-track adoption steps so the town meets a state timing requirement.
Bel Air commissioners on June 10 directed town staff to prepare an ordinance that would increase the allowable distance between cannabis dispensaries inside town limits, and to advertise the change for possible emergency adoption before the state’s early-July deadline.
The town’s current regulation requires 1,000 feet between dispensaries; staff and commissioners discussed raising that spacing to one-half mile (0.5 mile) so the town would likely host only a single dispensary if one is ever permitted. Kevin, a town staff member leading the briefing, told the board that moving to a half-mile separation would “likely that if we ever got a cannabis dispensary, there would only be 1.”
Why it matters: Dispensary location rules determine how many licensed marijuana retailers could open in Bel Air and affect nearby commercial and residential properties. Commissioners also discussed the statute’s interaction with setbacks for licensed alcoholic beverage retailers and the potential for creating nonconforming liquor-store locations.
Key points discussed
- Separation and timing: Staff noted the state law allows municipalities to adopt a local distance limit for dispensaries of up to 100 feet from residential zones or to apply the licensed-alcoholic-beverage-retailer standard; municipalities may also increase the dispensary-to-dispensary spacing up to a half mile by adopting local law. Commissioners instructed staff to prepare language for a half-mile separation and to advertise a hearing so an ordinance could be adopted by the town before July 1 if possible.
- Existing businesses and nonconforming uses: Counsel and staff flagged potential conflicts with existing uses. Kevin said that tightening some setbacks could create nonconforming situations for existing liquor outlets such as Bel Air Liquors and Discount Liquors. The board asked staff to identify whether changing measurements (for example, building-to-building versus property-line measurements) could reduce impacts on currently operating businesses.
- Jurisdictional effects and county dispensaries: Commissioners discussed how a county dispensary near the municipal boundary could affect town siting; staff said that towns generally count nearby dispensaries regardless of whether they are inside town or county jurisdiction for spacing considerations.
Board directions and next steps
The board asked staff to advertise an ordinance this week, introduce it at the next meeting and pursue a public hearing on a fast timeline so the town could adopt a local ordinance establishing the increased separation (up to a half mile) before the state’s immediacy date. Staff flagged publication and public-notice timelines and the need to schedule a special meeting or emergency adoption to meet the July deadline.
Ending
Commissioners agreed to pursue the half-mile separation language now and asked staff and counsel to return with a draft ordinance and required public-notice steps; the town’s current map of potential dispensary locations will be updated and rechecked against the proposed standard.