Rezoning Denied for Med Marijuana Shop

In the first such request to the Ann Arbor planning commission following the city council’s approval of zoning regulations for medical marijuana dispensaries, the owner of Treecity Health Collective, a dispensary at 1712 S. State, asked that the location be rezoned from O (office) to C1 (local business). The owner also asked that the area plan requirement for that location be waived.

However, at their Aug. 16, 2011 meeting, planning commissioners recommended denial of the requests, based on a staff recommendation, stating that C1 zoning is not consistent with adjacent zoning, land uses and the city’s master plan.

The Treecity Health Collective opened in 2010. This summer, the Ann Arbor city council approved amendments to the city’s zoning ordinances that prevent medical marijuana dispensaries from operating in office zoning districts – those changes are set to take effect on Aug. 22, 2011. Rather than relocate the dispensary, the business owner – Dori Edwards – is asking for the zoning change. Dori Edwards, an employee of Treecity, was the only person to speak during the public hearing on these requests. The property – located on the west side of State, south of Stimson – is owned by Francis Clark.

The requests will now be forwarded to the city council, accompanied by the planning commission’s recommendation of denial.

This brief was filed from the planning commission’s meeting in the second floor council chambers at city hall, 301 E. Huron St. A more detailed report will follow: [link]