Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Marijuana topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning Board to hold public hearing on citizen petition to change Townsend marijuana zoning before town meeting
Summary
A citizen petition proposing changes to the town zoning bylaws for marijuana uses (buffer distances, permitted districts, and cultivation rules) was referred to the Planning Board; the board will hold a public hearing on May 4 and make a recommendation prior to annual town meeting.
The Planning Board confirmed it received a citizen petition asking voters to amend the town zoning bylaws on marijuana-related uses and agreed the board must hold a public hearing and make a recommendation before annual town meeting.
Chair Andrew Shepherd read the petition into the record, which included three articles: one to change buffer zones for medical dispensaries and cultivation operations (proposed 100- and 500-foot buffers were cited in the petition text), one to restrict such uses to industrial or outlined commercial zoning districts, and one to require cultivation to occur within buildings and to be subject to special permits. The chair said the petition was submitted to the select board and referred to planning as required for zoning amendments.
Board staff advised that the planning board must hold a public hearing, publish notice in advance of town meeting, and make a recommendation; because of publication deadlines the board scheduled the hearing for May 4 at 6:30 p.m. to allow time to report to town meeting. The board directed staff to proceed with the required advertisements and scheduling steps.
The board's action was procedural (scheduling a hearing and noting the board's duty to hold the hearing and make a recommendation) rather than a substantive decision on the petition content.
