Amity planner proposes Development Code package covering marijuana uses, short-term rentals and ADUs

Holly Byram, contract city planner with the Mid Willamette Council of Governments, told the Amity City Council on Dec. 4 that the city is considering a legislative amendment package to the Amity Development Code that focuses on marijuana-related land uses, short-term rentals (STRs) and accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

"This is a legislative amendment, which means that the council is holding a hearing to determine if the proposed amendments should be made to the Amity Development Code," Holly Byram said, explaining the process requires two public hearings and final enactment by ordinance. She said the package reflects about two years of work by the planning commission and council, beginning in fall 2022, and noted that time, place, and manner standards for psilocybin uses were recently removed from the package.

Byram outlined zoning changes and referenced statewide requirements: new uses would be allowed in residential zones (R-1, R-2, R-3) for STRs and ADUs, marijuana retail in the general commercial zone, and marijuana processing/production in light industrial zones. She said many state-required marijuana standards are echoed in the city code and that the draft includes a 1,000-foot buffer around schools and other marijuana retailers.

Council deliberations began after staff closed public testimony. A motion was made "as modified by Holly" to adopt the staff report and direct staff to prepare an enacting ordinance; a second was recorded, but the excerpt ends before a final tally or ordinance enactment was recorded.

Next steps: staff will prepare ordinance language for a subsequent meeting if the council confirms direction; the transcript excerpt did not record a final vote.