Troutdale council takes first-step to allow marijuana businesses as conditional uses in commercial and industrial zones

City staff introduced a proposed text amendment (case file 75-17) to the Troutdale Development Code on Feb. 11, 2025, that would change the land-use status of marijuana facilities from not permitted to conditional use in general commercial, light industrial and general industrial zones.

Dakota Meyer, associate planner, said the amendment responds to the defeat of local ballot Measure 26-248 and restores the code to allow marijuana facilities subject to conditional-use standards. Planning Commission held a public hearing, recommended approval, and asked that the additional-requirements section explicitly list community colleges and similar institutions where under-18 students receive instruction as part of the protected "school" category for buffer calculations.

During the council’s public hearing, a planning commission member who reviewed the ordinance asked staff to correct typographical errors in ordinance text and clarified that earlier language in the municipal code needed refinement. Staff said they can present corrected text and confirmed the schedule to bring the ordinance back for a second reading and adoption at a subsequent meeting (February 25 or March 11, depending on final agenda timing).

Councilors and staff emphasized that the amendment is intended to be a time, place and manner regulation that defines schooling uses for buffer and location limitations. No final adoption vote was taken at the Feb. 11 meeting; the ordinance was introduced and will return for adoption on a later agenda.