Westerville debate continues over ordinance to allow limited dispensaries, public raises buffer and access concerns

Westerville City Council held a public hearing during the second reading of Ordinance 2025-01 that would replace the city’s full prohibition on marijuana activity with rules allowing medical and dual-use retail dispensaries while continuing to ban cultivation and processing.

The proposal would confine dispensaries to the community commercial and planned community commercial zoning districts, require a special use permit, limit the city to no more than two dispensaries and require at least one mile between them. The ordinance mirrors the state’s 500-foot buffer from schools, parks and similar facilities in its baseline and retains design and review standards for retail uses; staff reported proposed hours of operation of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and said planning staff and the planning commission recommended approval at a Dec. 18 meeting.

Supporters and opponents spoke at the public hearing. Resident John Gaddis, 293 Crosswind Loop, told council that the ordinance as written creates a “de facto ban” by narrowing possible sites: he cited the city’s temporary ban and the inclusion of trails in the 500-foot buffer as factors that, combined with zoning limits and the one-mile separation rule, would leave “only a handful of pieces of property” that might qualify. Gaddis also noted state licensing timelines and said the state will not issue more dual-use licenses until 2026, which could mean only medical dispensaries would be possible for up to two years.

Other residents pressed for either stricter or looser rules. Tyler Frederick, speaking from Windsor Bay near Sunbury and County Line Road, asked council to extend the buffer from 500 feet to 1,000 feet because nearby shopping centers back up to homes and include daycare centers; he also asked the council to consider a buffer from residential property lines. Nikki Murray, 388 Scottsdale Court (Windsor Bay), said many neighbors were surprised to learn dispensaries might be possible and said they did not want a dispensary close to family-oriented businesses and daycares in their neighborhood.

Planning staff and council members responded with clarifications. Planning staff (Elise) said parcels in the Windsor Bay shopping center fall inside the prohibited buffer given the location of a park, a Goddard School and other daycares shown on the city map; Councilmember Glasgow confirmed the 500-foot baseline buffer mirrors state law. Councilmember Grimes and others described the special use permit process and explained that post-approval expansions or renovations would follow the same permitting rules that apply to any retail use on the parcel.

Council members discussed hours of operation and how to handle any amendment at third reading. Staff and the law director explained that the state’s rollout expanded permissible hours for dual-use retailers in some jurisdictions and that municipal bodies may adopt hours narrower than state baselines. The draft before council proposes 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., though extended hours used in neighboring jurisdictions were noted; council members said they could consider amendments on the third reading.

No formal vote on the ordinance was taken at the meeting; the second reading and public hearing closed and staff said they will return with requested follow-up information before the third reading (scheduled as a separate vote on Feb. 4).