The City of North Bend Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend that city council adopt a text amendment to allow marijuana production, processing and cultivation within the heavy industrial zone as conditional uses.

City planner Palak Bande presented the staff‑initiated amendment, explaining it would add production and cultivation to the code for heavy industrial areas, include safeguards such as setbacks and security requirements, and align with state licensing. "The proposed amendment creates a clear framework and allow these activities only within our industrial zone, consistent with state licensing requirement," Bande said.

Several residents spoke in opposition at the public hearing, citing concerns about pollution, water use, smell and potential crime associated with cultivation. "Look at Portland," neighbor Oliver Marks said, arguing that grows had contributed to neighborhood problems in other cities. Other commenters raised worry about chemical byproducts and odors.

Commissioners questioned where cultivation would be allowed, how tsunami‑zone mapping applies and the fiscal impact. Staff said the amendment would permit production only in heavy industrial areas (subject to conditional‑use review) and estimated the city could receive about $15,000 annually in shared marijuana tax revenue if production were active in the city.

After discussion about legal constraints and the narrow scope of the text change, a commissioner moved to recommend approval of case file 62725‑000021‑PLNG to city council based on the staff findings and consistency with the comprehensive plan and zoning regulations; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

The recommendation forwards the draft text to city council for final action. The commission also discussed scheduling and alternative meeting dates for January and February because the usual meeting dates fall on holidays.