March 4 Target Date For City To Begin Accepting Applications For Medical Marihuana
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The City of Grand Rapids Planning Department will begin accepting land - use applications for medical marihuana safety compliance facilities and secure transporters Jan. 22.
Planners will begin accepting applications for medical marihuana growers, processors and provisioning centers March 4. Both come before the end of the moratorium the City Commission had set to expire in mid - March for such requests.
The City Commission on Sept. 18 enacted a six - month moratorium on marihuana facilities to allow City planners additional time to develop proposed policies and zoning ordinance amendments. The proposed amendments were crafted to address various issues that came to light following the City Commission's adoption of a medical marihuana ordinance on July 24.
On Tuesday, the City Commission approved the Marihuana Industry Voluntary Equitable Development Agreement (MIVEDA) that provides "points" for applicants who align with the Commission's priorities.
The Commission also approved a policy for parks waiver requests from the 1,000 - foot separation distance requirement from sensitive uses and zoning ordinance text amendments.
Passage of the text amendments will be ratified by the City Commission on Dec. 18. A licensing ordinance likely will be introduced for Commission consideration at its first meeting in January, which is Jan. 8.
As part of the medical marihuana discussion, City Commissioners focused on efforts to build the local economy, particularly around ownership and equity. As a result, the Commission crafted the MIVEDA policy. MIVEDA points will assist in determining application placement on the Planning Commission's agenda as marihuana facility locations are reviewed and approved.
Public hearings for medical marihuana grower, processor and provisioning center special - use requests will allow community members to weigh in.
Planning officials expect the first marihuana facility use request to be heard by the Planning Commission on May 9.
"The Commission had a number of goals it wanted to achieve in creating a good regulatory framework for medical marihuana in Grand Rapids," said Suzanne Schulz, managing director of design and development. "We also heard extensively from practitioners and the community. This is a new land use, and there are a lot of lessons to be learned from other cities about how to regulate it. It was very important be thoughtful."
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