Stockbridge council approves full ban on marijuana establishments after split votes

The Village of Stockbridge council on Aug. 5 approved an ordinance prohibiting all marijuana establishments within village limits, following public comment and two separate council motions on the subject. The final motion to ban all establishments passed 4-3.

The council had recorded 15 constituents providing public comment about the marijuana ordinance earlier in the meeting. The first motion, offered by Powers-Taylor and supported by Cattell, would have prohibited marijuana establishments except by special-use permit in the M-1 Light Industrial zoning district; that narrower measure failed on a 3-4 roll-call vote (Aye: Cattell, Powers-Taylor, Ogden; Nay: Morehouse, Mullins, Fairbotham, Howlett). The subsequent motion, made by Howlett and supported by Fairbotham, approved a full prohibition on all marijuana establishments in the village; roll-call was Aye: Morehouse, Mullins, Fairbotham, Howlett; Nay: Cattell, Powers-Taylor, Ogden.

The minutes do not record individual statements from the 15 public commenters, and no direct quotations of those comments appear in the record. Council members who voted against the full ban initially supported a narrower zoning-limited approach; those who voted for the final ban supported a complete prohibition. The ordinance language referenced in the minutes states that marijuana establishments would be prohibited within the Village of Stockbridge (no ordinance number listed in the minutes).

The council did not attach an implementation timeline or administrative directive to the motion in the minutes; the clerk's record shows the ordinance motion passed by roll call during the Aug. 5 meeting. Next steps to enact or codify the new ordinance in the village code are not specified in the minutes.