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Allegan council adopts ordinances allowing regulated temporary marijuana events at large private properties
Summary
The Allegan City Council voted Feb. 10 to amend zoning and the city’s marijuana regulatory code to allow temporary marijuana events as special uses on privately owned parcels of 50 acres or larger, with buffers, hours and security requirements; no public speakers commented at hearings.
Allegan — The City Council on Feb. 10 adopted two ordinances to allow temporary marijuana events on large privately owned parcels within the city, clearing the way for business-to-business expositions and similar gatherings.
City Manager Joel told council the zoning amendment (Ordinance 5‑25) designates temporary marijuana events as a special use on privately owned parcels of 50 acres or more — a change aimed primarily at permitting events at the Allegan County Fairgrounds. "Temporary marijuana events shall be permitted on privately owned parcels over 50 acres in size," Joel said, and said the zoning includes minimum standards: consumption and sales areas must be set back 100 feet from non-associated property lines and from the nearest associated dwelling unit, hours are limited to 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., and overnight storage of marijuana products is prohibited unless secured within a locked building or dumpster.
A second ordinance (Ordinance 5‑26) amends Chapter 31 of the city code to create a regulatory process for temporary marijuana-event permits. Joel explained that the regulatory amendment sets out the application process to the city clerk and preserves the current special-use review sequence — Planning Commission review followed by City Council review — so each event still requires permitting and public review.
Council opened the required public hearings for both ordinances. No members of the public signed up to speak, and both hearings were closed. Councilmember Walker and others asked clarifying questions on whether consumption would be allowed at events; Joel replied that business‑to‑business expositions typically involve consumption for product demonstration and that the ordinance does not attempt to ban consumption at permitted, private events on qualifying parcels.
The motions to adopt both ordinances were moved, supported and approved by voice vote; no votes against were recorded in the meeting minutes. Council and staff stressed that individual events will still require separate special‑use permits and the accompanying public process. The ordinances take effect according to the city’s standard ordinance-adoption rules.
The council’s action does not change the status of marijuana under federal law; staff and council noted state law authorizes private‑property consumption in certain circumstances, and the city’s ordinances are designed to set local standards and a permitting pathway.
