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11/08/2018 03:56 PMOn Thursday, Nov. 15, North Branford’s Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) will open public hearings on two text amendments pertaining to allowing marijuana dispensaries and production facilities in town. The hearings will take place as part of the regular PZC meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at North Branford Town Hall, 909 Foxon Road.
One text amendment application, Appl. #2018-13, includes adding a definition of a medical marijuana dispensary and a medical marijuana producer and adds a section allowing medical marijuana dispensaries in business zones with an approved special use permit and compliance with special standards. The other application (Appl. #2018-14 ) provides a definition of a medical marijuana production facility and adds a section allowing medical marijuana production facility in industrial zones with an approved special use permit and compliance with special standards.
Growing facilities would be indoor-only operations. Both applications are being brought by the North Branford PZC. According to information received from Town Planner Carey Duques, the latest version, drafted Sept. 27, shows the language proposed as text amendments seeks to add the following language in existing sections of zoning law:
For the Appl. 2018-13 text amendment regarding medical marijuana dispensary, the applicable amendment language reads:
6.22.1 Licensed Medical Marijuana Dispensary—A pharmacist licensed pursuant to Chapter 400j of the CGS, who the Department of Consumer Protection has licensed to acquire, possess, and distribute marijuana pursuant to sections 1 to 15, inclusive, of “An Act Concerning the Palliative Use of Marijuana”, as may be amended from time to time.
6.22.2 Licensed Medical Marijuana Producer—A person or organization that is licensed as a producer by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection under section 10 of an “An Act Concerning the Palliative Use of Marijuana” and whose purpose is to cultivate marijuana for palliative use and selling, delivering, transporting, or distributing such marijuana only to licensed dispensaries under sections 1 to 15, inclusive of the above act, as may be amended from time to time.
Regarding medical marijuana to be located under Section 42 Special Use Permit:
42.5.18 Licensed medical marijuana dispensary included under Use Line C-2.1, shall conform to the following Special Standards: 1. Definition: See Section 6 Definitions
2. General: a. A medical marijuana dispensary shall be a minimum of 1,000 feet, measured in a direct line from any and all property lines of the facility to the nearest property line, of a school, church, or place used for religious worship or a town-owned playground or park, or any child daycare facility. b. Prior to the issuance of a zoning permit, the applicant shall provide a copy of a dispensary facility license issued under the authority of the commissioner of the Department of Consumer Protection.
For PZC Appl. #2018-14 text amendment regarding medical marijuana production, the applicable amendment language reads:
6.22.2 Licensed Medical Marijuana Producer—A person or organization that is licensed as a producer by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection under section 10 of an “An Act Concerning the Palliative Use of Marijuana” and whose purpose is to cultivate marijuana for palliative use and selling, delivering, transporting or distributing such marijuana only to licensed dispensaries under sections 1 to 15, inclusive of the above Act, as may be amended from time to time.
Proposed language for text amendment regarding medical marijuana to be located under Section 42 Special Use Permit:
42.5.19 Licensed medical marijuana production facilities included under Use Line C-2.2, shall conform to the following Special Standards: 1. Definition: See Section 6 Definitions. 2. General: a. A medical marijuana production facility shall be a minimum of 1,000 feet, measured in a direct line from any and all property lines of the facility to the nearest property line, of a school, church, or place used for religious worship or a town-owned playground or park, or any child daycare facility. b. Prior to the issuance of a zoning permit, the applicant shall provide a copy of a Production Facility license issued under the authority of the Commissioner of the Department of Consumer Protection.