Don Measamer, City Planning Department Assistant Director, told the City Planning Commission Wednesday night that two men walked into City Hall and said they want to open a private smoking club for recreational marijuana and wondered about getting the necessary permits.
Measamer said the city has no rules allowing such a such a club. In fact, city regulations have put a one-year moratorium on businesses related to recreational marijuana.
The state Liquor Control Commission is currently processing applications to produce marijuana, process marijuana and sell marijuana at retail stores. Under current state rules, one retail store would be allowed in the city of Anacortes.
Where to allow a retail store brought some discussion by Planning Commissioners holding their first meeting of the year.
Measamer said if a retail store were allowed on Commercial Ave., it would be limited by state rules, by a small area “somewhere around 17th or 18th St.”
The city administration is recommending limiting recreational marijuana operations to manufacturing zones, mostly along the Highway 20 corridor on March Point, which would avoid potential impacts to residential areas.
During discussion, Commissioner Cory Ertel said, “Personally, I’d prefer not to have these businesses here. I have a family and prefer not to haven them around.”
The question of whether to allow open growing, in addition to indoor growing, more than one Commissioner was opposed to outdoor grow operations. Security was cited as the reason. One Commissioner said, “I don’t want to see gunfire in the city.”
But, Commissioner Marty Laumbattus pointed out that electricity would be a major factor in growing marijuana indoors. “I could see a reason to allow outdoor growing.”
Measamer said he would draft an ordinance and bring it back to the Planning Commission to work on.