Pubdate: Wed, 8 Dec 2010
Source: Sentinel-Standard (Ionia, MI)
Copyright: 2010 Liberty Group Michigan Holdings, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.sentinel-standard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4730
Author: Jon Szerlag, Ionia Sentinel Standard
Cited: City Council http://www.ci.ionia.mi.us/index.aspx?nid=151
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Michigan+medical+marijuana
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?275 (Cannabis - Michigan)

COUNCIL APPROVES ZONING ORDINANCE FOR MARIJUANA

IONIA, Mich. - After two moratoriums and lengthy discussions in 
Ionia's Planning Commission and council chambers, Ionia City Council 
members approved zoning ordinances for medical marijuana use at 
Tuesday's meeting.

The vote was 6 to 3, with council members John Milewski, Gordon 
Kelley and deputy mayor Kim Patrick voting against the proposal.

Before voting, council members heard a presentation and were able to 
ask questions of representatives from the Hubbard Law Firm from Lansing.

Kelley said he felt that after hearing the presentation and receiving 
more information, planning commission members could have further 
defined the ordinances with a second moratorium, which would not end 
until March.

"I would like to see if we could send this back to the planning 
commission to tighten it up," said Kelley. I think, given the legal 
information we have, we can get those hammered down."

Council members have spent nearly a year discussing the "Medical 
Marihuana Act."

The ordinance will regulate marijuana use in the city by not allowing 
marijuana facilities in all zoning districts, and it can only be 
transferred between a qualifying patients living in the same 
dwelling, or a primary caregiver and the registered qualifying patients.

It is only allowed in a one-family, two-family or multiple-family 
dwelling, and no more than 72 plants can be cultivated in any unit. 
Plants can also only be cultivated in an enclosed locked facility and 
plants cannot be visible from the exterior of the building.

Marijuana may not be cultivated in an accessory structure like a 
detached garage, shed, greenhouse or barn.

"We are not prohibiting, but we are zoning it," said council member 
Matt Johnson.

Even though the ordinance was approved, the planning commission can 
still look at amending the zoning regulations to be more specific.

"We have spent a year, we did not rush into this, and we are getting 
valuable input tonight," said Ionia Mayor Dan Balice. "To me, this is 
hard. (Residents across the state) overwhelmingly approved medical 
marijuana, and we have to as a council (regulate). I think we are 
regulating it as safe as we can."

Also at the meeting, council members approved the Rail to Trail 
Planning Service bid, and selected the firm Prein and Newholf.

Even though they were not the lowest bid, representatives from the 
Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the Village 
of Saranac and Ionia City Manager Jason Eppler selected the firm 
based on several reasons.

The reasons included that the firm offered the most comprehensive and 
in-depth culvert and trestle inspection and analysis, closely matched 
the objectives of the grant and demonstrated creating an identity for 
the trail segments.

"We looked at a variety of things," said Eppler . "They took us 
farthest along the way to a construction plan. Some lower bidders 
were not that innovative."

The planning will be fully funded from a MDNRE grant totaling 
$65,000, and the firms bid cost was $58,000.

Council members also approved a liquor license transfer request for 
113 S. Depot St. to have a Tavern License with Dance Permit, the 
Michigan Department of Transportation contract for the Dexter Street 
reconstruction project and approved the first reading of an amendment 
to the Planned Unit Development zoning district.

The PUD amendment will have a public hearing scheduled at the January meeting.

If approved, the amendment will remove the minimum size for a parcel 
in order to be rezoned as a PUD.

Eppler explained that this amendment was prompted by Resurrection 
Life Church's proposed expansion project, although passing of this 
ordinance will not guarantee the project moving forward.

The approval of the introduction and first reading was passed with a 
6 to 3 vote, with council members Milewski, Jeff Winters and Johnson 
voting against.  
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake