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Planning commission backs six-month moratorium on natural medicine businesses while town reviews land-use code
Summary
The commission voted 5-0 to recommend a six-month moratorium on applications for natural medicine facilities so staff can draft land-use code amendments after recent state law changes.
The Timnath Planning Commission voted 5-0 to recommend an ordinance that would impose a six-month moratorium on any local land-use approvals, building permits or licenses for natural medicine businesses and facilities.
Town Attorney Carolyn Stiefel told commissioners the state recently passed legislation allowing licensed “natural medicine healing centers” and related manufacturing facilities; Timnath’s code has not yet addressed these uses. The proposed moratorium would give staff time to research appropriate zoning districts, permit conditions and reasonable time-place-manner regulations and to return a land-use code amendment for the commission’s recommendation and council consideration.
Carolyn said the state has adopted implementing regulations and that permits for facilitators had not yet been issued statewide at the time of the meeting. She told commissioners the town will coordinate review with state licensing if an application is filed; staff said they would notify the state of the town moratorium if a facilitator license were submitted and referred to the town.
Commissioners raised concerns about the breadth of the state statute and unintended effects on agriculture and small producers. Commissioner Tom Wood and one other commissioner warned the Natural Medicine Health Act’s definitions are broad and may capture agricultural products; Tom urged the town to consult Colorado State University and other experts. Commissioner Renzo Bianchi said six months may be short and noted the moratorium could be extended. Commissioners also flagged environmental and storage concerns for manufacturing uses.
The commission noted that public comment on the moratorium itself was not being accepted at the meeting. Motion and vote: Commissioners approved a motion to recommend adoption of the temporary moratorium ordinance (agenda item 7a); the motion carried 5-0. Staff said the ordinance will be presented to town council beginning Jan. 14, and staff will bring proposed code language back to the commission and council within the moratorium period.
