The Jefferson City Council will vote later this month whether to allow medical marijuana dispensaries in commercial zoning districts.
The council heard a proposed bill Monday night that would regulate permitted locations for medical marijuana dispensary and transportation facilities.
Under the proposed bill, medical marijuana dispensary facilities - medical marijuana retail establishments - would be permitted uses in C-1 Neighborhood Commercial and C-2 General Commercial zoning districts.
General commercial zoning districts typically consist of general retail establishments, personal services and health care facilities, while neighborhood commercial zoning can include offices, pharmacies, food service establishments and other general retail establishments.
Medical marijuana transportation facilities would be permitted uses in M-1 Light Industrial and M-2 General Industrial zoning districts, according to the proposed bill.
Originally, city staff recommended the city allow medical marijuana dispensaries only in C-2 Commercial Zoning. However, the Jefferson City Planning and Zoning Commission recommended last month city staff allow medical marijuana dispensary facilities in neighborhood and general commercial zoning districts.
Medical marijuana dispensary and transportation facilities would not be allowed within 1,000 feet of any then-existing secondary or elementary schools, child day cares or churches, according to the bill.
The 1,000-foot separation from schools, churches and day cares be "measured in a path that can be legally traveled by foot," according to the bill.
The City Council approved a separate zoning code amendment in May regarding permitting medical marijuana cultivation and testing facilities, as well as medical marijuana-infused products manufacturing facilities, in M-1 Light Industrial and M-2 General Industrial zoning districts.
These three facilities would also not be allowed within 1,000 feet of any then-existing secondary or elementary schools, day cares and churches.
A medical marijuana cultivation facility is a facility that farms, stores, transports and sells medical marijuana.
A medical marijuana testing facility is a facility that acquires, tests, certifies and transports medical marijuana.
A medical marijuana-infused products manufacturing facility is a facility that specializes in marijuana-infused products.
Missouri voters approved a ballot measure in November that legalized medical marijuana.
In other business Monday, the City Council approved a bill requiring residents to follow the city's noise level ordinance during after hours at the parks.
Currently, the ordinance states activities at public parks are exempt from the city's noise level ordinance, City Counselor Ryan Moehlman said. The amendment would clarify the exemption only applies during normal park operating hours.
Individuals wanting a noise exemption for after hours at the parks must acquire a license or permit from the city.
The Jefferson City Police Department would enforce the noise level ordinance, Moehlman said.
"As of right now, police would have no authority to go in there and ask people to turn down the music, whether it's coming from the building or out in the parking lot because all activities inside the parks are exempt from the noise ordinance," Moehlman said. "Here, the difference is when it's outside the normal operating hours of the park, police would then have the authority to ask them to comply with the noise regulations."
Ward 4 Councilman Carlos Graham said residents near McClung Park have complained about the noise level during after hours. He added he believes the loud noises or music normally come from individuals in the parking lot, not necessarily the events.
"I think it's mostly the people who are outside playing their loud music, in which those homeowners do have a right to be in a peaceful and quiet environment, especially late at night," Graham said.
Also on Monday, the City Council:
- Approved a more than $1.7 million contract with SAK Construction LLC to replace sanitary sewer mains that are prone to infiltration and structurally unsound.
- Approved a $168,900 contract with Visu-Sewer of Missouri, LLC, to replace sanitary sewer manholes that are almost deteriorated.
- Reviewed Rose International's Preliminary Planned Unit Development Plan to construct a 100-space off-site parking lot at 3215 Masonic Court. The lot would serve the parking needs for an office building at 3225 W. Truman Blvd.