Gilliam County Court closes public hearing on Mayville cannabis retail amendment, sets deliberation for July 1

The Gilliam County Court on June 17 closed public testimony on a proposed text amendment to the county's zoning code that would allow cannabis retail as a conditional use in the rural unincorporated community (RC) zone limited to Mayville, and set deliberation for July 1 at 10 a.m. at the Gilliam County Courthouse.

Planner Stephanie Casease told the court the amendment (A-001-26) would change multiple sections of the Gilliam County Zoning and Land Development Ordinance to permit retailing conditionally in the RC zone and to clarify definitions. She emphasized the text change itself would not approve any specific business; it would only allow an applicant to pursue a conditional use permit that would be considered later under the county's standards. Casease noted staff and the planning commission raised transportation impacts and recommended Oregon Department of Transportation be given notice for any subsequent permit review.

The applicant, Rick Bassonet, told the court he intends to locate retail operations in Mayville and emphasized medical uses, security procedures and youth access protections. "I meet every criteria for the state," Bassonet said, and told the court the business would contribute revenue that could be used for public safety and county needs.

Opponents submitted four letters that were read into the record. Written commenters raised concerns about traffic and public-safety impacts, questioned the economic benefit to Gilliam County and flagged public-notice/owner-notice timing. One letter referenced recent public-record judgments against the applicant and asked the court to consider whether the applicant demonstrates the fiscal responsibility required for a cash-intensive retail operation.

Supporters offered rebuttal testimony. Tony Carpenter, who said he and Bassonet planned the proposal together, rejected the characterization of cannabis as a gateway drug and pointed to medical benefits and the potential county revenue.

Court members pressed staff to clarify the regulatory distinctions between retailing and wholesaling, and staff said wholesaling (large-quantity sales to other businesses) is not currently allowed in any county zone. The planning commission recommended allowing conditional retail only in Mayville (not in other unincorporated communities in that zone) and requested that code language use the term "cannabis" consistently.

After discussing whether to leave the record open to accommodate a remote speaker who experienced technical problems, the court voted to close the public testimony portion of the hearing and to deliberate the matter on July 1 at 10:00 a.m. No decision on the amendment was made on June 17.

Next step: the court will deliberate on July 1 and may vote to adopt, modify or deny the proposed text amendment or to leave the record open under a specified schedule.