Fort Wright passed a resolution stating the city’s intention to move forward with amending its zoning ordinances to accommodate medical cannabis facilities.
The resolution passed during Wednesday’s city council meeting, with five out of six council members voting in favor. Before the vote, Mayor Dave Hatter reminded the council that this resolution is not legally binding and is only a statement of intention.
This vote followed an updated presentation on medical cannabis from Cody Sheets, Associate Planner for the Kenton County Planning and Development Services. The council discussed the information, and Sheets, along with planning services executive director Sharmili Reddy, fielded questions.
According to Sheets, when accounting for buffer zones and current industrial and commercial zones, Fort Wright could house operations from any of the five permit uses—cultivation, processing, production, dispensary and safety compliance.
“Most of the general industrial uses would be concentrated around Madison Avenue, in the southern part of the city,” Sheets said.
General industrial uses would include all uses aside from dispensary. Planning and Development Services recommend that dispensaries be in highway and community commercial zones. Jill Cain Bailey, city administrator, explained that dispensaries could be located in the Walmart shopping complex or the Christ Hospital strip.
Hatter has made clear that he is in favor of allowing medical cannabis businesses.
“My take on it is, why not try to be a first mover and make some money off of it?” Hatter said. “The first businesses that come out of this will be incredibly well-regulated versus a year or two from now when this could become recreational and we lose all control.”
Hatter explained that while he is in favor of recreational cannabis legalization, it will undoubtedly be less regulated.
Since Planning and Development Services of Kenton County initially presented medical cannabis information to cities, members of the Fort Wright city council have been concerned about these operations emitting an unpleasant odor.
“We can’t let the odor impact our neighbors,” Councilmember Justin “Jay” Weber said.
“[Medical cannabis operations] could produce an odor,” Bailey said. “But Burger King also produces an odor. What is the difference if the odor is not toxic?”
Councilmember Bernie Wessels told the council about a trip to Florida, where he visited a dispensary. While he could not smell anything outside the business, he reported an odor in the neighboring shop with an adjoining wall. He spoke on this as a potential issue.
“As far as I’m concerned, if this goes through, I think it has to be in a standalone facility,” Wessels said. “But, if a neighboring business agrees to this, knowing what they’re getting into, then I don’t see a problem with it.”
Council asked Reddy and Sheets whether requiring a dispensary to be a standalone building would be an “undue restriction.”
“I don’t think we usually see that in zoning ordinances—requiring a specific use to be standalone,” Reddy said. However, regarding dispensaries possibly emitting odors, Reddy said, “You allow vape and smoke shops that produce odors.”
There are several smoke or vape shops within Fort Wright city limits.