Pubdate: Sun, 11 Apr 2010
Source: Steamboat Pilot & Today, The (CO)
Copyright: 2010 The Steamboat Pilot & Today
Contact: http://www.steamboatpilot.com/submit/letters/
Website: http://www.steamboatpilot.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1549
Author: Zach Fridell

MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY COMES TO MILNER

Aloha Mobile Caregivers Settles Into New Home In Unincorporated
County

Steamboat Springs -- After the Steamboat Springs City Council limited
the number of medical marijuana dispensaries in city limits, one
provider is opening up shop in Milner to avoid the restriction. Routt
County officials, who oversee the area, say they have no plans to
regulate the dispensary differently than any other business.

Chris Ward, owner of Aloha Mobile Caregivers, submitted the paperwork
to the Routt County Planning Department in February and completed it
in late March to open Aloha's dispensary. Ward has been operating as a
mobile caregiver since at least January, with patients across the state.

The business is planned for 21600 U.S. Highway 40 in Milner, on
property owned and rented to Ward by Andy Volk. That area in Milner is
one of the few areas in unincorporated Routt County zoned for
commercial business, and Routt County planner Connie Staponski said
the dispensary would not be subject to any extra regulation. Only
areas of Clark, Phippsburg and Milner are zoned by the county to allow
businesses.

"We don't individualize the various retail uses; they're all treated
the same, basically," Staponski said.

Ward said the limit imposed by the City Council led him to look into
opening the storefront in Milner.

"I would love to do one in Steamboat, but because of the moratorium
put in place, the city was making it really tough for anybody to come
in," he said.

The City Council enacted a temporary moratorium and then created final
regulations limiting the number of for-profit dispensaries to two and
allowing for one cooperative dispensary. There already were two
for-profit dispensaries in the city when the regulations were passed
in January.

To open the Milner business, Ward will have to go through the same
site plan review that all other businesses are subject to, including
setback, right-of-way and environmental reviews.

County Manager Tom Sull-ivan said that because the dispensaries are
allowed under state law, the county does not plan to impose additional
regulations.

"I don't know that we're going to do anything to restrict the number
like the city (of Steamboat Springs) has," Sullivan said. "I don't
believe we will."

Ward said he plans to decorate the shop in a Hawaiian theme, using
things he picked up while growing up in Hawaii. He said he has had
good response from several neighbors. There are several residential
areas nearby, and Ward said he would keep children away.

"I think most of the parents will have a chat with their children; I
don't think I should be the one to have that," he said.

As with all dispensaries, he said, people must be at least 18 years
old and have a medical marijuana license to enter the business.

Ward said he has rented the space for two months and has been cleaning
and decorating the place in that time. He will not be allowed to open
until after the Planning Commission gives it the final OK.

"Any time in any part of the county where we have a change in use in a
retail area ... we don't really care about (what the business is), but
we want to make sure the site accommodates those uses," Staponski said.

Ward's business is scheduled to go before the Routt County Planning
Commission on May 6 for a "simple review," meaning it will not have to
also go before the Board of Commissioners.

Ward had been operating as a "mobile caregiver" in a legal gray
area.

As the Steam-boat Springs City Council limited the number of
dispensaries in town, it also required all dispensaries to obtain a
license. In January, city attorney Dan Foote said that unless Ward had
a permit, which he did not, he was violating city laws any time he
delivered marijuana to patients in Steamboat.

Ward said that because he delivered to patients inside their homes in
Steamboat, he did not run into any problems with the law. He said that
as he opens Aloha's, he will combine the businesses to still provide
delivery for patients who can't leave their homes. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D