Kenai planning commission approves retail marijuana store permit and West Ward Estates preliminary plat

The Kenai Planning and Zoning Commission on May 28 voted 4–2 to approve a conditional use permit for a retail marijuana store at 7825 Kenai Spur Highway and adopted a resolution recommending approval of the West Ward Estates preliminary plat for a three-lot subdivision in the rural residential zoning district.

Staff told the commission the retail marijuana site, on Cole Homestead Subdivision Tract A, meets the criteria in the Kenai zoning code for a conditional use in the general commercial district and complies with local buffer and operational standards. "Staff finds that the proposed conditional use permit to develop and operate a retail marijuana facility at 7825 Kenai Spur Highway . . . meets the criteria for issuance of [a] conditional use permit," Director Buettner said during the staff report.

The conditional use permit carries five staff conditions: compliance with all applicable federal, state and local regulations; an on-site inspection if requested by staff; prohibition on on-site consumption; no detectable odor outside the establishment; and restricted hours (the establishment "may not conduct business on or allow any customer or consumer to access the license premises between the hours of 5AM and 8AM daily," per the permit conditions and state restrictions reported to the commission).

Applicant Michael Welch told the commission he purchased the building at 7825 Kenai Spur Highway a few…