WHATELY — The Planning Board will discuss its proposed zoning bylaw changes for recreational marijuana and farmer breweries on Tuesday at 7:15 p.m. in the Town Offices to get public input before the annual Town Meeting.
The board, according to a press release, “believes that both adult-use marijuana and farmer breweries have the potential to benefit Whately’s economy and tax base. The goal in crafting these bylaws is to create opportunities for farmers and for additional commercial activity in town while protecting Whately’s rural character and the rights of existing property owners.”
The proposals will allow recreational marijuana cultivation, processing/manufacture, and retail sales in certain districts in town, but only with a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals. This requirement allows neighborhood input to determine whether the proposed establishment is appropriate for that particular location and for the ZBA to impose special conditions on matters like hours of operation, lighting, setbacks, etc.
The bylaws would regulate odor emissions and lighting and require energy and water efficiency. There would be size limitations and design guidelines for marijuana growing facilities in agricultural and commercial districts.
The number of retail marijuana establishments would be limited to three.
If the proposed bylaw changes discussed above are not approved at town meeting, Whately would have little local control over siting and operation of recreational marijuana establishments. To prevent that, the Planning Board is also proposing a temporary moratorium on recreational marijuana establishments until June 1, 2019 or passage of a recreational marijuana bylaw. This would give the town time to develop another bylaw proposal.
Unlike most commercial activities, Whately has very little control over the placement and operation of farmer breweries under its current bylaws. The Planning Board seeks changes to the town’s zoning that would allow these breweries and their associated tasting rooms only with a special permit in certain zoning districts in town.
The wording of the proposed changes can be found on the Planning Board page at whately.org.