Three Rivers makes changes to SEU, marijuana establishment license processes

Confluence Cannabis, located at 104 US-131 in Three Rivers, is one of several licensed marijuana dispensaries within city limits. Tuesday's ordinance amendments won't affect Confluence or any other dispensary currently in operation. (https://www.facebook.com/confluence3R)

The Three Rivers City Commission Tuesday amended two parts of the city’s zoning ordinance as it applies to special exception use procedures and marijuana establishment licenses. 

City staff and the planning commission recommended amending two parts of the city’s zoning ordinance, starting with Section 30-34 pertaining to procedures and application requirements for all special exception use (SEU) permits. The second amendment is to Chapter 31 to clarify and amend provisions of the city’s current marijuana ordinance, stating that in the event a marijuana establishment does not commence operations within one year of issuance of a city operating license, the license shall be deemed forfeited.

Mayor Tom Lowry said, “I’ll just say like I said last time, most of this is common sense. There’s nothing controversial here.” Lowry added that now if someone takes or gets a SEU permit for a marijuana establishment but does not do anything with it within a certain timeframe, the permit will expire. “They can apply for an extension, but if you don’t do what you say you’re going to do, that special exception use permit expires. That’s one of the biggest changes and that makes sense to people.”

The amendments were accepted unanimously with a 6-0 vote. First District Commissioner Pat Dane was absent.

Beca Welty is a staff writer and columnist for Watershed Voice.