Legislation introduced by City Council last month would tweak regulations overseeing cannabis licenses, specifically making retail cannabis operations a conditional use – which requires Planning Board approval – within the zones where it’s allowed.

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The ordinance (O-1-23), which would amend the city code over cannabis, was introduced during the Jan. 9 regular meeting and will come up for a public hearing and final adoption at the governing body’s next meeting, scheduled for Monday. UPDATED: The measure was tabled at Monday’s meeting by an 8-0 vote. It was tabled “for further revision and will be revisited later in the year,” William George, the city’s public relationship coordinator, said via email.

Modifications proposed would eliminate retail cannabis as a permitted principal use but allow it as a conditional use in the B-2 Regional Business Zone and B-3 Highway Business Zone.

Cannabis cultivation, manufacturing, wholesaling, distribution, retail and delivery would only be conditionally permitted in the I-L Light Industrial, I-H Heavy Industrial, B- Regional Business, and B-3 Highway Business Zone. Permitted uses are allowed by ordinance and normally do not need to go before the Planning Board for approval. A conditional use is permitted if an applicant meets each condition in the ordinance and would have to go before the Planning Board for approval.

Like other facilities in the industrial zones, cannabis retailers in the B-2 and B-3 zones would be allowed one facade sign – not to exceed 10 percent of the front facade area, according to the ordinance.

In July 2021, City Council approved an ordinance allowing for two cannabis licenses for each class of business but retail (cultivator, manufacturer, wholesaler, distributor, and delivery). It wasn’t until last fall that the governing body passed legislation allowing retail operations. City Council adopted two ordinances to allow retail cannabis operations within four zones: I-L, Light Industrial Zone, I-H, Heavy Industrial Zone, B-2 Regional Business Zone, and B-3 Highway Business Zone.

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