Planning commission backs draft ordinance to regulate natural medicine centers; narrows hours and limits cultivation locations

The Woodland Park Planning Commission voted on March 13, 2025 to send a draft ordinance to city council that would create a new chapter (proposed Chapter 18.8) regulating natural medicine healing centers and related businesses, with several amendments recommended by the commission.

Staff described two distinct categories in the draft ordinance: natural medicine healing centers (where clients receive therapy) and natural medicine businesses other than healing centers (cultivation, testing and manufacturing). Staff explained the ordinance focuses on time, place and manner regulation — the city cannot prohibit the businesses outright but can regulate operating hours, lighting, security, and minimum distances from schools, consistent with guidance from the State Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA).

Public commenters included local residents and prospective providers who urged flexible hours and safety rules. Jason Friesma, who identified himself as a Woodland Park resident and operator, said he preferred fewer hour restrictions and asked the commission to consider a later end time so sessions could be completed, while Dalton Lane, who described experience administering sessions, told commissioners that typical therapy with these medicines may include several hours for preparation, administration and integration. "The administration session ... is going to last anywhere from five to six hours," Lane said, urging the commission to allow providers enough time to complete a client’s work safely.

Commission discussion focused on balancing provider needs and neighborhood concerns. Commissioners noted the draft initially contained a time window and that some jurisdictions impose no hour limits, but others raised that Woodland Park’s commercial zones may include residences and that late-night activity could affect neighbors. After discussion, the commission amended the draft ordinance’s hours of operation to 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and voted to make non-healing natural medicine businesses conditional uses (require a conditional-use review) in the community commercial and service commercial zone districts rather than permitted uses.

Commissioners also discussed the appropriate zoning for cultivation and manufacturing. Staff explained that cultivation/manufacturing was proposed in heavier commercial or light-industrial areas in the draft; commissioners were receptive to limiting cultivation to larger commercial or industrial zones or requiring conditional-use review to ensure neighboring residential uses would be protected.

The commission voted unanimously to forward the ordinance package, with the two amendments (hours 7 a.m.–10 p.m.; conditional-use requirement in community commercial and service commercial for non-healing businesses), to city council for a public hearing. Staff said the council public hearing is scheduled for April 17, 2025, at 6:30 p.m., and staff noted the ordinance text revises the zoning code numbering to align definitions consistently with the city’s code organization.

Commissioners and staff emphasized the ordinance attempts to balance safety, security and neighborhood compatibility while providing a regulatory framework required under state law and DORA guidance. The forwards to council were unanimous.

Next steps: city council is scheduled to hold a public hearing and take the ordinance through its adoption process; planning staff said the commission’s recommended edits will be included in materials routed to council.