NORWAY — Town Manager Dennis Lajoie said he and Code Enforcement Officer Scott Tabb will update selectmen next month on the development of land-use regulations for medical marijuana growing facilities.
A committee is working on the rules.
Voters in October unanimously established a 180-day moratorium on medical marijuana growing operations.
The issue arose after three proposals for growing facilities were brought to the Planning Board and Board of Selectmen over four months. Some selectmen and many residents said they were concerned about the number of proposals and their effect on the downtown.
At the Jan. 18 selectmen meeting, Lajoie, who is on the committee, said he sent a letter to town attorney Mary Costigan with seven questions on how to develop appropriate land-use regulations and ordinances concerning the facilities. They included:
• Can the town limit the number of facilities?
• Can the town limit the size of the facilities?
• Can the town limit the number of caregivers within a facility?
• Can the town charge a fee for the facility, initially and/or annually?
• Can the town prohibit marijuana facilities within one or all of the historic districts listed in the town’s Comprehensive Plan?
• What are the appropriate setbacks for these facilities from schools, day cares, churches, playgrounds and parks? What are the justifications for the setbacks?
• What is the inspection process for the facilities?
Lajoie said the committee agreed that he should present Costigan’s answers to the questions, as well as the committee’s progress, in February.
Other committee members include Selectman Thomas Curtis, Planning Board members Dennis Gray and Mary Lou St. John, Code Enforcement Officer Scott Tabb, Fire Chief Dennis Yates, and residents Jim McBride and Justin Gilmore.
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