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Planning commission votes to recommend allowing marijuana retail in Mayville only and forwards recommendation to county court
Summary
The commission recommended modifying proposed zoning language (AZ‑001‑26) to permit marijuana retail businesses only in the rural unincorporated community of Mayville, separating it from nearby unincorporated communities; the recommendation will be forwarded to the county court where public testimony will be reopened.
The Gilliam County Planning Commission voted to recommend modifying draft zoning language to allow retail marijuana businesses exclusively in the rural unincorporated community of Mayville, separating that allowance from neighboring unincorporated communities.
Staff told the commission that state law defines the three locales at issue as unincorporated communities and that the commission cannot create a new zone for a single parcel but can craft code text that applies to a single community. Planning Director Stephanie Casease said staff had reached out to the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) for clarification and had found examples in other counties where text‑specific allowances were used.
"We could determine to move forward with this and just distinguish it as Mayville rural unincorporated community and limited to that," Casease said, describing how code text — not a map amendment — could limit certain uses to a named community.
Commission debate revisited a previous unresolved motion about whether retail marijuana should be allowed in the draft text. Commissioner Aaron reiterated his prior motion to deny the request. A newer commissioner moved instead to recommend modifying AZ‑001‑26 to allow marijuana retail businesses only in Mayville; the motion was seconded and passed.
Staff emphasized the planning commission’s role is advisory: the recommendation will be forwarded to the county court in Arlington where the county court will accept further public testimony. Staff said the county court hearing was planned for June 17, subject to publication deadlines for public notice; if notice deadlines are not met, the hearing could be moved to a later date. County court hearings will include new opportunities for testimony in favor, opposed, or neutral.
Next steps: staff will publish county court notices and forward the record; the county court will make the final decision on AZ‑001‑26 and any related map/text changes.
