Florence planners discuss rezoning request for proposed medical cannabis dispensary at 6809 Burlington Pike

Florence planning staff and applicants on the caucus agenda reviewed a request to rezone a 0.35-acre property at 6809 Burlington Pike to allow a medical cannabis dispensary in a former bank building.

The rezoning request — submitted by Bluegrass Canacare LLC on behalf of owner NKH Investment LLC and transmitted as Resolution R25009A from the Boone County Planning Commission — would change the parcel from Commercial 2 to Commercial Services (C3) and would require a conditional use permit for a cannabis dispensary if Florence City Council approves the zoning map amendment.

City planning staff said the property meets the city92s spacing requirements for dispensaries and that the Planning Commission recommended approval with two conditions. "This proposal is to allow a medical cannabis dispensary on the property, which is a former bank," said Mr. Morgan, who introduced the matter to the caucus. He displayed a buffer map showing the site just meets the 1,000-foot spacing requirements from Boone County High School to the south and TLC Learning Center to the east.

Why this matters: Florence city code permits medical cannabis dispensaries as a conditional use in the C3 zone subject to set spacing and operating standards. Rezoning and a conditional use permit are needed before a dispensary could operate from the site; the Planning Commission92s recommendation moves the matter to city council for final action.

Details presented at the caucus

- Site and zoning: The site is approximately 0.35 acre on Kentucky 18 (Burlington Pike) near Lee92s Chicken and adjacent to a vacant Frische92s. Staff said rezoning to C3 would be in character with nearby properties.

- Spacing and code requirements: Morgan summarized the city standards adopted in November that add definitions and regulations for cannabis businesses. Under those rules a dispensary may not be located within 1,000 feet of an existing elementary or secondary school or daycare center, within 500 feet of a public park/playground, within 500 feet of a religious assembly facility, within 500 feet of a sex-oriented business, or within 1,000 feet of an existing dispensary. The Planning Commission92s buffer map shows the site meets the 1,000-foot spacing from the named school and daycare.

- Conditions and limits: The Planning Commission recommended approval to the city with two conditions: allowing the requested dispensary and requiring landscaping along the front façade. The Planning & Zoning Committee recommended a different set of permitted C3 uses for the site (a list labeled A through P on the committee slides) rather than allowing all C3 uses, because committee members said the small lot makes many C3 uses inappropriate.

Operational and security details discussed

A committee speaker noted state regulations and operational controls for medical dispensaries, including restricted entry and secure storage. "There can only be the same number of people inside as there are employees," the staff member said, explaining that the facility would be enclosed and locked and that product must be in secured storage except for limited items that may be displayed. The same speaker said the applicant does not plan to operate the drive-through at opening and expects a small staff: "We don't anticipate being able to have, because of the size of the building, more than probably 6 employees at a time in the building, which would mean 6 customers would be the most." Applicants Jason Coulter and Ed Maynard confirmed operational hours would likely be about 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and said they would not open Sundays (or would be limited hours on Sundays).

What the city has not decided

The caucus discussion reviewed the Planning Commission and Planning & Zoning Committee recommendations. Florence City Council had not taken a final vote on the rezoning or the conditional use permit during the caucus meeting; the Planning Commission92s action was a recommendation forwarded to the city for final consideration.

Next steps

If the City Council votes to approve the zoning map amendment to C3, the Planning Commission92s recommendation would allow the conditional use permit to be considered for final action. Any future council action was not recorded in the caucus transcript.

Ending note

Planning staff and applicants encouraged questions and said additional details would be available as the matter proceeds to a formal council hearing and vote.