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Rangely council adopts emergency ordinance to regulate natural medicine businesses
Summary
The Rangely Town Council adopted emergency Ordinance 7032025 to add place, time and manner rules for natural medicine businesses, limiting operations to industrial zones and setting hours. Council cited state statute constraints and passed the measure so local rules could be enforced quickly.
The Rangely Town Council voted to adopt emergency Ordinance 7032025, amending the Rangely Municipal Code to add regulations governing natural medicine businesses.
Town manager Lisa told the council the ordinance focuses on the three regulatory levers state law allows — location, hours and manner — and recommended passing the emergency measure now with the option to refine code language later. "So that way, it's an emergency ordinance," Lisa said, urging quick adoption to establish a local framework.
Council discussion stressed public‑safety concerns and zoning limits. A council member relayed hospital providers' worries that certain treatments could increase weekend demand on the emergency room, saying providers' concerns were "mainly on weekends, things like that, overloading the ER." Councilors discussed limiting operations to the industrial zone and noted a 1,000‑foot statutory buffer applies to some protected locations; staff said the town cannot change state statute but can control permitted local placement and hours.
Council members also asked whether applicants could be required to install specialized sewer or drainage systems; staff replied such infrastructure requirements could be included and would be paid by the business. After brief debate, the council moved, seconded and adopted the emergency ordinance.
The ordinance takes effect immediately as an emergency measure; staff said the council may return later to adjust specific code language and buffers if needed.
