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Council advances but reopens discussion on city zoning rules for natural medicine; vote to postpone to Feb. 10
Summary
City council initially approved a zoning text amendment to regulate natural medicine healing centers and related uses but a motion to reconsider passed 6–1 and council voted to postpone final action to the Feb. 10 meeting so members can get more information and hold a work session.
Councilors debated a text amendment Jan. 27 that would add zoning and performance regulations for “natural medicine” facilities (healing centers, cultivation, product manufacturing and testing) following state legislation that legalized and regulated natural-medicine activities. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval in December.
Staff summarized the state framework: the Colorado General Assembly enacted legislation implementing a voter-approved measure (referred to in the meeting as Proposition 122) and a senate bill to establish licensing and regulation. Under state law, local governments cannot ban natural-medicine businesses through zoning, but they may adopt “reasonable” time, manner and place restrictions. The city proposal would allow healing centers in commercial or medical-office style districts, while cultivation, manufacturing and testing facilities would be limited to industrial zones. The draft included a 1,000‑foot buffer from operational schools with in-person classes and (as clarified during the meeting) included childcare and preschool facilities in that protection.
Council discussion focused on where facilities should be allowed, the buffer distance from schools and childcare, whether childcare should be included (staff clarified that childcare facilities are included), whether to regulate operating hours (P&Z chose not to add time restrictions), and the limits of local authority given state licensing by the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) and the Department of Revenue. A councilor asked whether the city could require facilities to be in an industrial district; staff explained that cultivation and product manufacture are restricted to industrial districts in the proposed text, while healing centers would be permitted in commercial/office districts because sessions require intake and a supervised stay, not continuous high-volume foot traffic.
On the council floor, a motion to reconsider the ordinance passed 6–1 (the prevailing side moved to reopen). After reconsideration the council voted to postpone the ordinance to the Feb. 10 regular meeting (6–1) to allow a work session and additional information to be prepared. Staff and several councilors said they would arrange a Monday work session to provide more details and proposed amendments for council review before the next vote.
What the draft does (as presented): - Prohibits any retail sale or unsupervised off-site distribution of natural-medicine products; consumption generally is limited to licensed healing centers under state licensing. - Restricts cultivation, manufacturing, and testing facilities to industrial zones. - Establishes a proximity limit recommended by state guidance (1,000 feet) from operational schools with in-person classes; staff confirmed inclusion of childcare facilities.
Next steps: council asked staff to prepare additional information and return with proposed changes at a work session; the ordinance will be reconsidered Feb. 10.
