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Morris City council approves first reading of cannabis zoning ordinance
Summary
The Morris City Council approved the first reading of Ordinance 127 to regulate cannabis businesses, adopting buffers, permitted zoning districts and business hours while delegating registration to county authorities.
The Morris City Council on a voice and roll-call vote approved the first reading of Ordinance 127, a new local zoning framework to regulate cannabis businesses.
City manager Becca summarized the planning commission—s recommendations, saying the registration portion was removed because registration will be delegated to the county. She told council members the draft also sets buffer distances and allowable zones for different cannabis activities. "We are going to limit to 500 feet from a school, 250 feet from childcare, 250 feet from residential treatment facilities, 250 feet from public park that is regularly used by minors," Becca said.
The ordinance separates uses by zoning type: cultivation in farm-residence and industrial districts; manufacturing and hemp manufacturing in light and heavy industrial and farm-residence; wholesale in industrial and highway business districts; retail in light industrial, highway business district and Central Business District (with retail allowed by conditional use in the Central Business District). Delivery and transportation activities are similarly limited to industrial and highway business zones or allowed by conditional use in the Central Business District. The draft follows the county—s recommended hours of operation (10 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week).
Council discussion focused on the practical implications for parcels rezoned earlier in the year, grandfathering questions and whether future child-care locations could affect an existing cannabis business—s ability to operate. One council member asked for a mapping of all allowable areas before the final reading to show how narrow those zones would be in practice. Becca and planning staff said they will provide that updated map ahead of second reading.
Council member [Speaker 6] moved to approve the ordinance—s first reading; the motion was seconded and carried on a recorded roll call. Council indicated a second reading is scheduled in the packet for Dec. 23, 2024.
The ordinance remains a draft until the council completes the second reading and any additional changes. Staff said state licensing and county registration will still be required for most business types.
