Buena Vista adopts zoning rules for state-mandated natural-medicine businesses, sets hours and spacing rules

The board adopted amendments to the Unified Development Code to implement state-mandated provisions allowing four categories of natural-medicine businesses (healing centers, product manufacturers, cultivation facilities and testing facilities). The changes establish where those uses are potentially allowed, impose measurement rules for buffer distances, and add site-and-operation requirements.

Planning staff explained the state requires municipalities to designate where these uses may operate and allows towns to regulate time, place and manner. The proposed UDC amendments add natural-healing centers as a special-use-permit activity in mixed-use and commercial districts and list manufacturers, cultivation and testing uses in industrial districts (also by special use). Staff presented a map showing 1,000-foot statutory buffers from schools and childcare facilities; the board noted the 1,000-foot requirement is statutory and may be shortened but not enlarged.

Trustees debated a proposed 500-foot separation from other natural-medicine uses intended to prevent concentrations. Staff and the town attorney explained the state permits certain colocations (for example, some healing centers may colocate with cultivation and manufacturing but testing facilities generally cannot). Trustees modified the draft: they removed a 500-foot buffer from alcohol/drug-rehabilitation facilities (there are no such facilities in town now) and added a 7 a.m.–9 p.m. operating-hours limit for healing centers after discussion about safety and the therapeutic nature of services. The board also added a requirement that outdoor administration be behind a visual screen and clarified that sites must be permanent (no mobile vendors).

Town attorney Jeff Parker advised that numeric caps are legally risky but zoning, distance and time limitations functionally limit concentrations; staff said the town can revisit rules later if needed. The board voted to approve the ordinance with those amendments. The special-use process and state licensing remain separate; staff will coordinate with state licensing as permit applications come forward.