A second Kenai Planning and Zoning work session has been scheduled for Wednesday night to discuss preliminary marijuana regulations.
Kenai City Planner Matt Kelley said Tuesday night’s work session discussed a draft city ordinance.
Kelley: “I am recommending that we prohibit outdoor cultivation of marijuana and just regulate it as indoor cultivation. The state’s regulations don’t really talk about either one, so I’m starting with regulating indoor and prohibit outdoor and then let’s see what the Commission and ultimately City Council decides.”
The city will have to abide by the regulations laid out by state officials but suggestions like Kelley’s can be implemented by municipalities.
The main concern heard by members of the public was the proposed “buffer zones”for marijuana businesses which would ban those establishments on lands 500 ft from property lines of public spaces.
Winery and brewery regulations have a buffer zone 500 ft from property line to structures which is what Green Rush Events Owner Josh Bird would like to see mimicked.
Bird: “Same guidelines versus you have 200 acres of property but your establishment is in the very back end or the middle, they want to do a 500 foot from property line to property line which is unreasonable. It really should go from the facility to the other establishment’s property line.”
Tonight’s second work session will be from 6:00 – 6:45 pm at Kenai City Hall.