Wilton Selectperson Mike Wells, center, speaks Tuesday on changes to shoreland zoning ordinances during a special town meeting. From left are Selectpersons Philip Hilton, Keith Swett and Wells, and moderator Tom Skolfield. Brian Ponce/Franklin Journal
WILTON — Voters at a special town meeting Tuesday approved a six-month moratorium on licenses for adult use and medical cannabis establishments, and passed amendments to several zoning ordinances.
The moratorium, which was drafted by Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson law firm in Portland and Town Manager Perry Ellsworth, will bar new applications for the next 180 days. This includes facilities for cultivation, products manufacturing, testing and retails stores.
Ellsworth said the moratorium was needed so a special committee formed in July can continue revising ordinances related to the sale and cultivation of cannabis.
After the reduction of licensing fees for retail and growth/cultivation earlier in the year, Ellsworth stressed to the board in April the need for a break from the influx of applications to reexamine their ordinances. He said he didn’t want to see Wilton become the “pot capital of the world.”
Amendments to shoreland zoning ordinances bring them in line with the state’s more restrictive regulations.
“We have to, as a municipality, go by the more restrictive of the ordinances,” Code Enforcement Officer Gary Judkins said.
One changes the minimum setback from the high-water line of a resource protection/watershed overlay from 100 feet to 250 feet. Another allows the height requirement of structures near the high-water line to vary based their proximity to the line.
The amendment to the zoning ordinance states that any portion of a structure that is less than the required setback may be expanded up to 30% during the life of the structure. The expansion was 29%, Ellsworth said.
Former state Rep. Tom Skolfield served as meeting moderator.
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