Woodland planning commission recommends council allow retail marijuana sales in C‑2 zone

The Woodland Planning Commission voted 3–1 on Oct. 16 to recommend that the City Council approve a zoning text amendment (WLD2024‑051) from Paradigm LLC to add retail marijuana sales to the list of permitted uses in the C‑2 Highway Commercial zone.

Travis Goddard, community development director for the City of Woodland, told the commission the applicant asked the city to "reconsider its prohibition on retail sales" and to remove retail marijuana from the municipal code lists that currently prohibit it in C‑2. Goddard said the draft ordinance attached to the staff report would remove retail sales from the code’s prohibited lists and add it to the permitted‑uses table for the C‑2 zone. He also described a heat map in the packet showing state law buffers that would still bar retail outlets near certain protected sites.

The issue drew both supporters and opponents during an extended public hearing. Supporters included Keith Palaiil and Paradigm owner John Storer, who said the business had not caused traffic or policing problems while it operated. Opponents included Deborah Bennett, who lives on Misty Lane and said the new development and any retail marijuana outlet would worsen an already congested corner, and several residents who described personal or public‑health concerns. "The traffic is ridiculous," Bennett said during public comment. Another speaker described personal problems she attributed to marijuana use and urged the commission to reject the rezoning.

Former City Council member Deanna Holland told commissioners the city and the business entered a legal settlement in 2023 that included an agreement by the business to close until it was both zoned for retail marijuana and licensed by the city; she cited an August 2023 closure date in that settlement. Goddard clarified for the record that retail sales were not subject to a temporary moratorium but instead were a prohibited use under the current code until changed by ordinance.

Commissioners discussed whether the question amounted to a policy decision better resolved by City Council. After deliberation one commissioner moved that the commission recommend approval and the motion was seconded. The commission then voted: Commissioner Georgoff voted no; Commissioners Watt, Matson and Raab voted yes; the chair did not cast a vote. The planning commission recorded the recommendation to forward the zoning text amendment to City Council for consideration.

Goddard and multiple speakers reminded the commission that a zoning change is only one step: even if Council rezones the C‑2 district, any retailer would still need to secure a city business license and comply with state buffers and other requirements. Members of the public and several commissioners said the issue has recurred across multiple years and that some in the community want a ballot advisory or other final determination by elected council members.

The commission’s recommendation will be transmitted to City Council for its consideration; Council action or a hearing date was not specified at the Planning Commission meeting.