Pubdate: Thu, 18 Nov 2010
Source: Lewiston Sun Journal (ME)
Copyright: 2010 Lewiston Sun Journal
Contact:  http://www.sunjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/743
Author: Tony Reaves
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

PLANNING BOARD RECOMMENDS MEDICAL MARIJUANA RULES, CHANGES TO ZONING

OXFORD - The Planning Board approved several zoning ordinance 
amendments on mass gathering and medical marijuana on Wednesday.

The ordinance changes won't take effect unless Oxford residents vote 
for the amendments at the town meeting, and the amendments are 
considered recommendations to voters. The amendments were written by 
an ordinance committee.

Zoning would change to allow buildings as tall as 65 feet in the 
town's mixed-use zone, which follows Route 26. The current ordinance 
allows buildings up to 35 feet tall, but Chammings said the town's 
fire department was equipment to fight fires in taller buildings.

Chammings said the change was not related to the recently-approved 
casino, and that Lampron's Energy had received a waiver to build 
taller than 35 feet.

Most of the changes would be for medical marijuana. Chammings said 
the ordinance was adopted from an ordinance Brewer passed recently.

Medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivation facilities would be 
banned in areas less than 1,000 feet from schools, 500 feet from 
churches, private residences or licensed daycare centers.

The amendment would also require surveillance cameras, burglar alarms 
and a safe for overnight storage of the marijuana.

One mass gathering change would affect events with more than 10,000 
attendees, and would require notifying people living within 500 feet 
of the event. The other change would require notifying people who 
live on roads that would be closed for an event.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom