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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Hearing - BOCCOpen Record Public Hearing Cannabis Moratorium — Final Extension of Interim Ordinance July 16, 2024 3:15 p.m. In Attendance: Cindy Carter, Chair Danny E. Stone, Vice Chair Rob Jones, Member Barbara J. Vasquez, Clerk of the Board Caitlin Manell, Deputy Clerk of the Board Jim Anderson -Cook, Assistant Development Services Director Barbara Duerbeck, Prosecuting Attorney's Office Public: See Sign in Sheet The Commissioners held an Open Record Public Hearing for the final extension of the Interim Ordinance regarding the Cannabis Moratorium. Jim Anderson -Cook, Deputy Director of Grant County Development Services, read into the record his 1- 502 Moratorium Report: The County adopted the Initial six-month moratorium on the establishment, relocation, or licensure of marijuana (cannabis) producer processor facilities was adopted by an interim ordinance on July 25, 2023 (Ordinance 23 -067 -CC). The reason for the interim ordinance was to allow Development Services time to evaluate whether agriculturally zoned lands are the most appropriate zoning district to allow this use and research whether irrigation water could be used to support these non-agricultural uses. RCW 36.70A.390 allows a moratorium to be effective for not longer than six months. This moratorium was extended for an additional six months, via a Public Hearing on January 23, 2024, to allow Development Services more time in developing a work plan to address this use (Ordinance 24 -006 -CC). The moratorium maybe renewed for one or more six-month periods if subsequent public hearings are held, and findings and facts are presented to substantiate the extensions. Development Services has incorporated its recommendations to address cannabis producer and processor licensure within the unincorporated areas of GC in its 2024 Work Plan -known as the annual docket. One last extension of this moratorium will be needed to allow the moratorium to remain in effect until the proposed UDC (Unified Development Code) amendments have been adopted as part of our annual comprehensive plan and development regulation adoption process. This process must be completed by December 31, 2024 and the moratorium, if extended, will not expire until January 25, 2025. A motion was made by Commissioner Stone, seconded by Commissioner Jones, to close the public comment portion of the hearing. The motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Commissioner Jones to approve the final extension of the interim ordinance as presented. Commissioner Stone seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The hearing adjourned. (Ordinance No. 24 -066 -CC)