Whitefish delays vote on marijuana zoning
The Whitefish City Council on Monday delayed a vote on proposed zoning regulations for medical marijuana businesses.
The issue was unanimously tabled until at least July so council members could take time to study the issue.
Concerns were expressed about increasing crime in other towns related to the new industry, whether 200-foot buffers were too small, and whether council members would violate their oaths of office by approving an ordinance that doesn’t seem to comply with federal law.
The council had been scheduled to consider a text amendment to establish conditional-use permit criteria and performance standards for medical marijuana dispensaries in the WB-2 secondary business district, or casino district, and the WB-4 zone that includes a commercial strip of land near the Montana 40/Dillon Road intersection.
The council did, however, vote unanimously to extend for one year the emergency ordinance that bans medical marijuana businesses inside city limits.
In other business Monday, the council:
n Approved an amended construction agreement between the city and the Glacier Twins Legion baseball organization for a new stadium at Memorial Park.
n Approved a revised five-year capital improvement program.
n Approved reimbursing part of the building permit and impact fees already paid by Flathead Valley Habitat For Humanity for a new home under construction on East Second Street.
The city would keep the amount actually used by planning and building staff for the home. Council member Chris Hyatt, who is the Flathead Valley Habitat For Humanity executive director, abstained.
n Appointed the following people to volunteer boards: Ian Collins, Carin Cross and Eric Payne, Architectural Review Committee; Jan Metzmaker and Dave Ring, Weed Control Advisory Committee; Bruce Boody and Dan Cassidy, Tree Advisory Committee; Don Spivey, Pedestrian and Bicycle Path Advisory Committee; Susan Schnee, Park Board; Jane Moody and Geoff Sanderson, Ice Rink Advisory Board; John Muhlfeld, with Chris Hyatt as the alternate, to the North Valley Hospital Healthy Communities Committee.