Planning 2013-07-25 Minutes - Board of Architectural Review / Public Hearing - Buffalo Wild Wings / Recreational Marijuana Producers, Processors and Retailers

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BAR & PC Hearing Minutes July 25, 2013 Commissioner Mann seconded the motion. All commissioners were in approval. Chair McLeod congratulated the applicant and closed the BAR hearing. Chair McLeod called for a short break 7:26 pm Chair Mcleod called to order the Planning Commission Hearing for the following: CASE: L13 -035 APPLICANT: Department of Community Development, City of Tukwila REQUEST: Zoning Code amendment in response to I -502 to adopt development regulations pertaining to producers, processors, and retailers of recreational marijuana. LOCATION: City -wide Stacy MacGregor, Assistant Planner, Department of Community Development, explained that this is a legislative hearing for the Planning Commission to make and recommend policy to forward to City Council for decision. There are no Appearance of Fairness questions for a legislative hearing. Ms. MacGregor briefed the Commission on the history of medical cannabis and the law that was approved by Governor Gregoire in 2011 and how portions of that law were then vetoed. It was explained how this law allowed collective gardens for medical cannabis and generally vetoed dispensaries for acquiring medical cannabis. The veto created inconsistencies within the law itself. This prompted the City Council of Tukwila to pass a moratorium against allowing medical cannabis in the City of Tukwila while waiting for direction from the state as to how to regulate medical cannabis. The 2012 Legislative Session did not provide any direction from the state level as to how to regulate medical cannabis. A vote of the people in November of 2012, adopted I -502, decriminalized the possession of recreational marijuana, and creating a licensing mechanism for marijuana retailers, processors, and producers. Ms. MacGregor clarified some key points: ➢ I -502 does not address Medical Cannabis ➢ Medical Cannabis is overseen by a different licensing agency than recreational marijuana ➢ It is the same substance ➢ City Council extended the moratorium on Medical Cannabis in summer of 2012 ➢ Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) is the agency in charge of drafting the rules to enact the law for I -502 ➢ July 3rd, WSCLB came out with a draft of the proposed rules, and is expected to adopt the final rules for recreational marijuana on August 14th, 2013 ➢ WSLCB is expected to start accepting applications for producers, processors, and retailers of recreational marijuana on September 14th, 2013 Recently, staff brought before Community Affairs and Parks (CAP) and Committee of the Whole (COW) a request to continue the moratorium on medical cannabis and a request for a moratorium on recreational cannabis. The State has directed the WSCLB to harmonize the cannabis and recreational marijuana laws in the 2014 Legislative Session budget. Page 3 of 5