The Kirkland City Council previewed several new zoning scenarios for the location of marijuana retail within city limits at the council meeting on Tuesday. The council looked at the options to prepare for a public hearing for the zoning regulations on March 18.
“The March 18 public hearing allows the City Council to take further public comment about other possible scenarios as it continues its thorough deliberation of marijuana retail uses in the city,” said City Manager Kurt Triplett. “Information on the recent experiences of Colorado, which has legalized recreation marijuana, will also be presented.”
At the Feb. 18 meeting, the council asked staff to develop different options or scenarios when it discussed supplemental interim regulations.
The scenarios were based upon the current interim regulations and depicted:
- excluding retail sales within 100-foot of single and multi-family residential uses
- allowing such uses in the retail and industrial zones
- allowing the use in retail and industrial zones with the exclusion of the Light Industrial-Technology zones
- allowing in retail and industrial zones except when within 100 feet of residential uses
- and restricting marijuana retail near elementary school walk routes
A month ago the council adopted regulations, which are in effect for six months, that prohibit marijuana retail uses within the Market Street Corridor Zone 1 area. This area extends along Market Street from Eighth Avenue to 19th Avenue.
And the Planning Commission was directed to develop permanent regulations for recommendation to the City Council.
To review the seven zoning map scenarios, visit at www.kirklandwa.gov/I-502.
Public comment on the scenarios can be given at the Public Hearing, which will begin at 7:30 p.m. and held at Kirkland City Hall, 123 Fifth Ave. Comments can also be emailed to citycouncil@kirklandwa.gov.
For background information on Initiative 502 and the impacts to Kirkland, go to www.kirklandwa.gov/I-502.
