Deschutes planning body OKs marijuana-biz rules

After two long public hearings and nearly five hours of debate, the Deschutes County Planning Commission voted unanimously Monday night to send a set of recommendations to commissioners on regulating marijuana businesses in the county’s unincorporated areas.

After extensive discussion on a variety of issues, the planning commission voted to only allow marijuana production (grows) and processing in the exclusive farm use zone, on properties 20 acres or larger, and in areas zoned for rural industrial use.

“The recommendation is to prohibit these uses in all other zones,” said Community Development Director Nick Lelack.

Having heard from numerous Alfalfa and Tumalo residents worried about the impacts of large marjiuana grows, as well as some support for proposed rules from some marijuana businesses, planning commissioners also voted to impose a range of reasonable “time, place and manner” regulations on the businesses, such as those addressing setbacks, odor, noise and lighting, Lelack said.

Planning commissioners also voted 5-2 to recommend that county commissioners not take the state’s “opt out” option for any marijuana businesses.

After the meeting, Lelack told NewsChannel 21 he didn’t believe the planning commission had made any significant changes from what staff proposed, “mostly refinements and clarifications.”

Lelack said he couldn’t recall any proposals that the citizen planning body made less restrictive than what county planning staff had proposed, and a couple of areas were made tighter, such as not allowing marijuana production and processing in the multiple use-agricultural (10-acre minimum) zone.

The planning director also said some issues remain to be fully fleshed out, such as “exactly how the lighting restrictions should comply with the (county’s) ‘Dark Skies’ ordinance,” as well as “how the number of permits per property should be limited.”

Also still facing county commissioners is deciding whether properties should be inspected in one to three years, to determine complaints with the regulations and what’s working and what’s not. Instead, the planning commission urged that county commissioners address and resolve those issues, Lelack said.

County commissioners have scheduled a pair of public hearings to gather more input on the recommendations, at 1:30 and 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2.

For more on the county’s process regarding recreational and medical marijuana, visit this page: http://www.deschutes.org/cd/page/recreational-and-medical-marijuana-land-use-regulation

A large crowd attended Monday night’s meeting — many in favor of allowing marijuana businesses, and urged to attend by the Oregon Cannabis Association, which on Tuesday morning issued this news release:

Nearly 75 Deschutes County business owners and allies wearing green ribbons filled the room at the Deschutes County Planning Commission meeting last night. The group delivered a petition signed by more than 200 local business owners, farmers and residents urging the Planning Commission to support licensed cannabis farming and other businesses in unincorporated Deschutes County.

Speaking from the dais, Deschutes Planning Commission Chair Hugh Palcic called the turnout “historic” and thanked attendees for participating in the County’s planning process. After nearly five hours of deliberation, the Planning Commission voted 6-1 to approve a motion to “strongly” urge the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners not to prohibit cannabis businesses.

“Central Oregon is home to a thriving cannabis business community, and the Planning Commission’s decision reflects an understanding that thoughtful regulations and strong oversight will support both public safety and job creation for rural Deschutes County,” said Amy Margolis, who leads the Oregon Cannabis Association.

“Good regulations make good neighbors,” said Hunter Neubauer, co-owner of Oregrown Industries in Bend. “We very much appreciate the hard work and thorough public process Chair Palcic and the members of the Planning Commission have undertaken to develop their recommendations.”

Neubauer worked with a group of local business owners and the Oregon Cannabis Association to organize the petition and attendance at the meeting. The group gathered more than 200 signatures in less than three days through a word-of-mouth campaign.

“We are local businesses, job providers and taxpayers, and we are in this for the long haul,” Neubauer said. “We look forward to working with our community and local officials in the years to come. Together, we will build a safe and well-regulated legal cannabis industry that brings economic opportunity to our county, our region and our state.”