Troy's Planning Commission to Discuss Recreational Marijuana

Staff recommends prohibiting dispensaries in the community

Last year, Ohio voters passed a controversial initiative that created a new set of state laws that allowed for recreational marijuana throughout the state. The measure passed by a 57% to 42% margin statewide and while it failed to get majority support in Miami County, it did receive 52% of the vote within the City of Troy and carried 16 of the city’s 21 precincts.

Shortly after the adoption of the measure, Troy City Council approved a six-month moratorium temporarily banning cannabis operations in the community, and an additional six-month moratorium was adopted earlier this year. The renewed moratorium is quickly coming to an end and the City’s Planning Commission will be asked to provide a recommendation to ban cannabis operations in the community at their meeting later today, Wednesday, October 9th.

The Planning Commission’s recommendation will come through adopting a new section of the City’s Zoning Code, Section 1149.15, which is seen below in red. If the Planning Commission recommends approval of the new section, the recommendation will be given to council to make the final determination on whether the new code section is approved or not.

Curiously, the City staff is not recommending a complete ban on cannabis operations in the community. The City staff is carving out a permission structure to allow “Adult Use Testing Laboratories” to be established in the community. These laboratories must meet state guidelines and are not dispensaries open to the public.

The recommendation from City staff will allow these facilities to be established in the M-3, General Industrial District, in which the only areas zoned for M-3 use are in the old industrial areas of the city’s southeast side along South Union Street and Dye Mill Road.

But it should be noted that existing state law prohibits any cannabis facility from being within 500 feet of a church, public library, public playground, public park, or school. Given the locations of Trostle Park, Herrlinger Park, Boyer Park and the Great Miami River Recreation Trail, this rule will further limit where these testing facilities could be located within the M-3, General Industrial District.

The City’s Planning Commission will begin at 3:30 p.m. this afternoon in Council Chambers on the Second Floor of the City Building. While the Planning Commission has often had a spotty record on allowing public comment, this meeting is open to the public.

What Do You Think?

How do you feel about recreational marijuana in town? How about medical marijuana? Your ideas and insights are welcome in the comment section!

You Can Help Support This Work!

Our readers and subscribers have been asking for a new way to support the work being done here at Civic Capacity! Some of our readers do not like the idea of having to sign up for another subscription service. Some of our subscribers occasionally want to give more support through a one-time transaction.

Civic Capacity is partnering with “Buy Me A Coffee” to give our readers, subscribers and friends an opportunity to give one-time support to Civic Capacity. Personally, I don’t like coffee, but I will never turn down a nice iced tea. If you feel compelled to support this effort, just click the button below.

Thank you to our reader Richard D. for purchasing today’s freezing iced-tea! It is much appreciated!

Also, thank you to our reader Marla E. for also purchasing today’s ice-cold iced tea. Thank you!

Thanks for reading today’s Civic Capacity Newsletter! Please feel free to share this information with your friends and neighbors.

Also, please consider subscribing to our work. If you are a free subscriber, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. For less than $1 a week, you can get timely and conversational updates about the decisions that are impacting you and your community!