Colfax council declines to alter buffer rule for Main St. marijuana store

A proposal for a downtown cannabis shop sustained a setback Monday night when city council members decided not to shrink "buffer zone" requirements for the proposed location. The current buffer zone requirement of 1,000 feet makes the store location unusable for that use.

Scott Hensrude of Everett in a letter to the city Oct. 11 said they were considering the former HUB Insurance office at 415 S. Main as a place to relocate their Pullman shop to Colfax.

Mayor Todd Vanek Monday said it was his understanding Hensrude wanted to move his shop here because the Pullman cannabis market is now saturated.

Vanek noted a plus for the city would be that an empty commercial building would be filled and the city would receive additional tax revenue from the retail sales. Colfax now receives a very small share of the state proceeds from marijuana sales.

The Colfax zoning ordinance requires the 1,000 foot buffer between a marijuana shop and schools, playgrounds, parks and recreation centers, child care centers and libraries.

At 1,000 feet, the proposed HUB site could not be used because it is too close to Hamilton Park and the Codger Bowl park. The 1,000-foot requirement is measured on a straight line.

Hensrude in his letter noted a change in state law now allows local entities to reduce the buffer zone requirement to 100 feet. A reduction in the Colfax buffer zone would make the HUB site useable for his purpose.

Councilwoman Crystn Guenthner noted she knows of Colfax residents who go to Pullman to purchase marijuana, and the presence of a local shop here would reduce travel time. However, she said she doesn't believe that is a reason to change the present buffer zone requirements.

Colfax has two locations where cannabis operations could be located and meet the 1,000 foot requirement. They are along the Walla Walla Highway and along Lower A Street.

Greg Nolan, who said he attended the session after learning the zone topic was on the agenda, asked the council to consider the backside results of opening a cannabis shop. He said he expects the number of property crimes and car prowls would increase when the shop customers attempt to get revenue for making the purchases.

"I don't think we're hurting anybody here by not having one in town," Nolan commented.

Councilman Tom Huntwork noted marijuana sales are cash based and that contributes to the need for customers to generate cash.

The proposal ended for lack of a motion.

City Attorney John Kragt pointed out Colfax does not have a moratorium on cannabis shops because the city zoning provides places for a shop if a proprietor wants to locate there.