Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
The Whitman County Planning Commission’s work on a proposed new code for marijuana is nearing a home stretch, with a proposed ordinance under SEPA review (State Environmental Policy Act) in Olympia with a public comment period to begin Feb. 27, running through March 12.
The ordinance will also be the subject of a planning commission public hearing March 18 in Colfax.
New rules in the proposal include a conditional use permit required – approved by county commissioners – for any new marijuana-related business.
At present, growing marijuana in the county is considered an agricultural use, needing only a permit from the state Liquor and Cannabis Board.
The new code would also lay down rules and enforcement to address odors, stating that no operation of any kind emit odors of marijuana detectable outside of the lot lines of the facility. Also in the draft code, it specifies allowed zones for specific marijuana businesses.
For example, indoor production and processing would be allowed in agricultural districts, light industrial, heavy commercial and heavy industrial, along with the Pullman-Moscow Corridor. Outdoor would be permitted in only ag districts while retail would remain in the corridor district.
Required setbacks for indoor production or processing would remain at 1,000-feet from “sensitive uses” such as schools, playgrounds, recreation centers, child-care centers, parks, churches and more. The proposed code would add the Palouse Empire Fairgrounds and county trails to that list.
“The code is a good tool to look in to specific locations (of marijuana facilities), and maybe even put conditions on a business,” said Katrin Kunz, assistant county planner.
The SEPA review will also include input from Washington State Fish & Wildlife Department, the City of Pullman, area conservation districts and more.
The new code/ordinance will ultimately require approval from Whitman County commissioners, who have put a moratorium on any further marijuana businesses in the county since last March.
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