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Douglas County approves restrictive rules for natural medicine facilities, citing state law
Summary
Douglas County commissioners adopted zoning amendments to allow state-licensed natural medicine businesses in specific industrial or commercial locations while imposing distance, notice and operating restrictions, passing the measure 2–1.
The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners on June 24 adopted zoning resolution amendments to regulate state-licensed natural medicine businesses, including healing centers, cultivation, manufacturing and testing facilities, while imposing time, place and manner restrictions required by state law (project file DOCTOR2024-003).
Staff said Senate Bill 23,290 permits local governments to regulate the time, place and manner of these businesses but not to prohibit them entirely. The proposed county rules would allow healing centers as a use by special review in Business, Commercial, Light Industrial and General Industrial zones; cultivation, manufacturing and testing facilities would be allowed by special review in Light Industrial and General Industrial zones. The board directed staff to draft restrictive regulations while complying with the state statute.
Key elements of the adopted rules include a 1,500-foot buffer from schools, state-licensed daycares, churches, parks, libraries, residences, residential zoning and municipal boundaries; a requirement that healing centers be within five miles of emergency facilities; limits on hours and days of operation; zoning verification requirements; and notices to the Douglas County Health Department and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. Town of Larkspur staff requested a three-mile buffer from municipal boundaries; staff said they considered referral comments and proceeded with the posted draft.
No members of the public spoke at the Planning Commission hearing; the Planning Commission asked staff whether the draft represented the most restrictive approach allowed by state law and whether the Sheriff's Office had been consulted. The Planning Commission recommended approval by a unanimous 5–0 vote. During the board discussion commissioners emphasized public-safety concerns and noted work with the sheriff and the Board of Health. One commissioner moved to approve the resolution; another seconded. After debate the board voted 2–1 in favor of the zoning amendments.
One commissioner said they "have an abhorrence to the use of these so called natural medicines" but supported the draft because it was restrictive; another commissioner spoke of the potential therapeutic interest in veteran communities and the county's opioid council work. The dissenting vote was recorded by a commissioner who voted "opposed." The board's action implements local zoning controls intended to comply with Senate Bill 23,290 while limiting locations and operations of natural medicine businesses.
The adopted ordinance requires special-review approval for permitted uses, applies the buffer and notice rules, and restricts hours of operation; staff told the board several potential investors had contacted the county during the referral period and that HOAs had sought the strictest possible controls.
