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Council passes first reading of natural medicine ordinance; local rules set 1,000-foot buffers and zoning limits
Summary
On first reading council approved Ordinance No. 2270 which adopts local place-and-manner regulations tied to the state natural medicine law: a 1,000-foot buffer from child-care and school properties, limits on zones where healing centers and cultivation/manufacturing can operate, and prohibitions on home-occupation facilitation.
Council voted 8–0 on first reading of Ordinance No. 2270 to amend Broomfield Municipal Code Title 17 with place-and-manner regulations for natural medicine businesses consistent with the state regulatory framework established after Proposition 122.
The nut graf: Staff recommended limited local regulation to fit the state framework: the ordinance sets where different natural-medicine activities may operate, a 1,000-foot buffer from child-care and K–8 schools (measured property-line to property-line), and manner standards (no detectable odors/smoke/heat/glare beyond a property line and no operation as a home occupation).
Staff summary and definitions: Brandon Rowe, planning manager, said the ordinance ties many definitions directly to the Colorado Natural Medicine Health Act so the local code remains aligned with state law as rules evolve. The ordinance defines healing centers (places where facilitators provide natural-medicine treatment) and classifies natural-medicine businesses (healing centers, cultivation, manufacturing, testing) for zoning purposes.
Place regulations: Rowe outlined where uses would be allowed: healing centers on commercially and industrially zoned property and within PUDs, mixed-use and TOD properties that allow general office or medical-office uses; testing facilities on commercial/industrial properties and PUD/mixed/TOD that permit laboratory uses; cultivation and product manufacturing on industrially zoned properties and agriculturally zoned parcels for cultivation in some cases and in PUD/mixed-use/TOD areas that permit light industrial operations.
Buffers and manner: The ordinance proposes a 1,000-foot buffer from any childcare center, preschool, elementary, middle or junior high school and residential child-care facilities; the measurement is from property line to property line. Manner regulations forbid natural-medicine businesses from producing odors, smoke, heat, glare or light detectable beyond the property line to a person of normal senses. Facilitators cannot operate as a home occupation but may provide services in a participant’s residence consistent with state statute.
Process and next steps: The staff presentation noted the city is not adopting a local licensing program at this time (council directed staff not to pursue local licensing at the study session). If approved on second reading after public hearing, the ordinance would be published in full and return to council with a scheduled public hearing on July 22.
Ending: Council approved the ordinance on first reading, setting a second-reading public hearing date; staff said they will continue public outreach and align the local code with any final state rule changes.
