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Luna Pier council tables marijuana overlay parcel and sends downtown zoning back to planning
Summary
After public comment about dispensaries and local blight, Luna Pier council failed to advance a parcel into the Marijuana Facility Overlay, voted to table the recommendation pending signage clarification, and sent a proposed Downtown Mixed District use back to Planning for reconsideration.
The Luna Pier City Council on May 22 declined to advance a parcel into the city’s Marijuana Facility Overlay and directed Planning to revisit a separate downtown mixed-district zoning change after residents raised concerns about dispensaries and neighborhood blight.
At the meeting Mayor James Gardner presided as council considered adding parcel 5851-003-007-50 (10552 Evans Drive) to the Marijuana Facility Overlay. Councilmember Diana Szkatulski moved to approve the Planning Commission’s recommendation to add the parcel, but the motion received no second and failed for lack of support.
Councilmember Duy Hoang said signage rules for marijuana facilities needed clarification; he moved to table the Planning Commission’s recommendation pending further detail on signage requirements. The tabling motion carried on a roll-call vote, sending the overlay item back to Planning for specific signage guidance.
The marijuana overlay discussion followed a sustained public-comment period in which several residents and business representatives weighed in. Andrew Haftkowycz presented studies suggesting a dispensary could increase revenues for nearby businesses, while Scott Roberts, who described having operated cannabis facilities elsewhere, urged council to consider commercial benefits. Other residents raised concerns about blight, noise from dirt bikes and odor from dispensaries. Marilyn Foster asked about the status of the city’s blight ordinance and urged clearer timelines.
Separately, Councilmember Neil Wakeman moved to send the Planning Commission’s recommendation on a new Downtown Mixed District use back to Planning with a formal ‘no’ so the commission could consider a less-binding alternative to a by-right use. The motion passed unanimously. In debate Wakeman contrasted by-right use and special land use approaches and Hoang noted differences between current zoning and the Master Plan that Planning should reconcile.
The council scheduled review and public input through the Planning Commission process; a Planning Commission public hearing on the Master Plan is set for May 27 at 6 p.m. at Water Tower Park Hall.
