Council to see first view of retail marijuana zoning code

Milford City Council will get their first look at a new zoning code that would prohibit retail marijuana sales within city limits

Milford City Council will meet on Tuesday, November 12, a departure from their regular Monday schedule due to Veteran’s Day. On the agenda is the introduction of the new zoning code related to retail marijuana locations. Despite public comment at a previous meeting where the majority of those who spoke were in favor of allowing retail marijuana sales in the city, the current code is written so that retail sales would be banned in city limits.

The code updates would allow registered compassion center dispensaries, which would only provide medical marijuana, in areas zoned C3, or highway commercial as well as IS, or institutional service zoning. Marijuana cultivation, manufacturing, safety compliance and testing facilities would be permitted in in BP, or business park, zoning.

“The following uses and activities shall be specifically prohibited in any zone in the City of Milford,” the updated ordinance reads under §230-41. “Automobile wrecking yards…outdoor woodburning furnaces…manufacturing uses involving products from raw materials…storage of explosives…quarries, large scale reduction, refining, smelting and alloying of metal…recreational vehicles as dwellings…marijuana retail stores.”

This is an introduction of the ordinance which means council will not discuss or vote on the code change on November 12. A Planning Commission hearing is planned for Tuesday December 17 at 6 PM with a City Council public hearing planned for January 13, 2025, at 6 PM. After those public hearings, Planning Commission and Council may vote to approve the ordinance as written or may make changes before voting on the zoning updates.

There is no public hearing planned for Tuesday although there is a 15 minute public comment section at the beginning of the meeting where the public can express their views briefly. Council does not respond during the public comment portion and each speaker is limited to three minutes. Public comment can be made at the meeting in person or by those attending online.

The entire proposed code can be viewed on the City of Milford website, clicking on Agendas and Minutes, then choosing the City Council Packet for November 12, 2024.