Green areas reflect the eligible parcels where adult use marijuana grow and processing establishments are allowed to operate within Trenton.
By ZEINAB NAJM
Sunday Times Newspapers
TRENTON — The City Council unanimously passed a resolution authorizing and permitting adult use marijuana grow and processing establishments Aug. 16.
Discussions on the ordinance have been taking place for a few years and will now allow for approved marijuana grower processor facilities in all-industrial zoned property between Fort Street and West Jefferson in the north and south ends of the city. Any planned facility must be at least 500 feet from any residential property and 1,000 feet from and K-12 educational facility.
The residential buffer or setback is reduced to 250 feet when the proposed facility has a multiple rail easements between the proposed facility and a residential area.
Each license would cost $5,000 per year and that money would be received by the city.
A first reading of the ordinance was Aug. 2 after a review by the city’s planning commission. Mayor Steven Rzeppa said the ordinance does not allow for retail marijuana sales.
Growing and processing would include warehouses and industrial centers that will grow and process the plants. There would not be sales to consumers, but instead selling to other retailers throughout the state.
Violations of the provisions of the ordinance or failure to comply with any of its requirements could result in a civil infraction with a penalty of $500 plus court costs, attorney fees and abatement costs for each violation.
With the ordinance approval, the city now has to inform the state it wants to permit marijuana growing and processing.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected].)