Concord Township Council Tuesday night approved changes to the township zoning code to accommodate medical marijuana dispensaries and medical marijuana grow facilities.
The voting for each change was four yeses and one no. Abstaining were Council President Dominic Pileggi and Vice President John Gillespie. The lone no vote came from Tom Mahoney. Yes votes came from John Crossan, Libby Salvucci, Marge Franke and Joshua Twersky.
Approving the change brings Concord into compliance with state law that requires municipalities to have provisions in their code that accommodate all legal activities in Pennsylvania. While there is still a federal prohibition on marijuana, the state legislature approved the Medical Marijuana Act in 2016.
Township solicitor Hugh Donaghue also said the change gives the township some control over such facilities. He explained during the meeting that without such action, a dispensary or grow facility approved by the state could set up pretty much where they wanted with little restriction by the township.
“If we choose to do nothing, there won’t be any control,” he said.
Donaghue also said it’s not up to the township to approve or disapprove of a given entity to own and operate the facilities; that approval also comes from the state. In December, Pennsylvania authorized the company GTI to operate in Concord.
No specifics as to where the sites would be located other than the permitted zoning districts and the frontal roads. The grow site would be allowed in the LI — Light Industrial — district, while the dispensary would be in a C-1 or C-2 commercial district. The locations for dispensaries must also front on Routes 1, 202 or 322.
The amended zoning code imposes several conditions. Facilities may not be located within 1,000 feet of any public or private school or day care center, nor may they be within 1,000 feet of a residential zoning boundary. Additionally, no two medical marijuana facilities may be within 3,000 feet of another.
There are also conditions on the types of buildings used. They must be secure facilities with every entrance and exit dedicated to that facility with no shared ingress or egress to or from another business and all common walls shall be firewalls. Security cameras must be used 24/7, covering the interior and exterior and 120 hours of continuous footage must be maintained.
Businesses must also apply for a special exception to operate a medical marijuana facility within the township.
Prior to the regular meeting, there was an art display in the township Community Building on Thornton Road. On display were 24 pieces of art made by students from Darlington Arts Center. Artist ages ranged from 5 years old to adult. Township Manager Amanda Serock said the township is planning a senior art display in the main building for September.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
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