Staff proposes ordinance to limit concentration of recovery centers and notes permit‑system migration

Staff member Lori told the Mona Planning and Zoning Commission that she drafted an ordinance to limit how many recovery center–type businesses can locate within a given radius so they do not cluster in town and potentially near schools. Lori said the town has about 2,000 residents and asked for input on an appropriate radius; she also suggested restricting signage so facilities look like neighborhood properties rather than commercial sites.

"More information on that when you update the code," Lori said, noting the draft includes proposed zones where the centers would and would not be allowed. Commissioners cautioned that state and federal law can limit a municipality's authority to ban such services outright, so the proposed ordinance focuses on spacing and zoning controls rather than a ban.

Lori also briefed the commission on a planned migration of the town’s online permitting system. She said the vendor has acquired the existing platform (referred to in the discussion as Zipflow and also as Ziplo) and staff expect to begin using the new system by July 1, with onboarding complete by Sept. 30. Lori said the change may increase costs and that older residents may need assistance with the new online tools.

Commissioners asked Lori to refine radius suggestions and return with a more detailed draft that identifies which zones would permit recovery centers and what signage restrictions could apply. Staff will also report any projected cost changes tied to the permit‑system migration before the commission advances an ordinance to a formal public hearing.