The Kenai City Council focused on buffers for commercial marijuana establishments during their work session Thursday night.
First, council members recommended how to measure the buffer zones from certain facilities that canna-businesses cannot be within range of.
City Planner Matt Kelley…
Kelley: “So if you have a retail store as an example in a multi-use type building, we’re going to measure it from that space that the retail store occupies, those walls, to the facility that would require a buffer around it.”
The council decided that the state regulated buffer of 500 feet was adequate from schools, recreation or youth centers, churches, or correctional facilities.
The Planning and Zoning Commission previously suggested seven additional facilities to be buffered, like those that offer state licensed substance abuse and hospitals, but many city councilors thought that was too restrictive.
Kelley had worked with commission members to create that longer list and says he was surprised the council took those out.
The council members did not finalize any regulations on commercial marijuana establishments Thursday, but directed Kelley and City Attorney Scott Bloom to create an ordinance reflecting their decisions.
That ordinance will be introduced in January.
