SAFFORD — Despite expressing a desire to update the county’s zoning code, the Graham County Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously on Wednesday to recommend the code change be rejected.
Following its meeting last month, the Planning and Zoning Commission heard a request from Geronimo property owner Pamela Brooks. He proposed a text correction to remove cultivated marijuana from mixed-use industrial zones (MX) and place it in agricultural zones instead. (A) conditionally or under a conditional license;
Comments by two Bonita residents against marijuana cultivation and approval by oversight board to allow NatureSweet to sell Bonita’s two greenhouse complexes to Bayacan for indoor cultivation of medical-grade cannabis Commission chairman Robert Larson, who opposes previous rezoning that was done, said it’s time for the county to consider updating its zoning code.
“It’s been nearly 50 years since these ordinances were put together. The Valley has changed, the people have changed, and some ordinances didn’t quite fit when we made them,” Larson said. Told.
“We asked[Planning Director]Steve[McGoey]to ask the supervisor for money to look up the ordinances and look at the different counties and see what they were doing and take the ordinances. I have asked to be able to obtain legal assistance for the.” he continued. “Like you said, MX, we absolutely need another zone.”
Many communities in Arizona require marijuana cultivation to occur in industrial areas. However, some take ranches and agricultural areas into account.
● Flagstaff requires marijuana cultivation in highway commercial, urban commercial, light industrial, or heavy industrial areas.
● Phoenix cultivation is restricted to suburban ranch or farm settlements, or suburban ranch or farm commercial zones.
● Tucson allows for cultivation in general and intensive commercial zones, heavy and light industrial zones.
● Mesa restricts cultivation to general and heavy industrial areas
● In Sedona, both pharmacy and cultivation must occur in the commercial zone
The Commission’s recommendations are now being forwarded to the Oversight Board for final action.
