When Gardiner elected officials meet Wednesday, they are expected to consider some changes to the city’s Land Use ordinance regarding indoor cultivation facilities.

The minor amendments provide regulations on indoor cultivation facilities inside city limits, particularly in the Libby Hill Business Park.

The Gardiner City Council meets at 6 p.m., Wednesday in the City Council chamber at 6 Church St.

Currently, Gardiner’s ordinance does not have any provision for indoor cultivation facilities.

In her review of the changes at the November Planning Board meeting, board Chairwoman Debbie Willis said a definition would be added describing the facilities, and the Land Use table would be updated to reflect where the facilities would be allowed — in the business park, in the central city district and in the Cobbossee corridor with review, and elsewhere, except in areas identified for education.

The proposal also calls for permanent structures, not temporary or seasonal structures in the business park, the central business district and Cobbossee Corridor.

Advertisement

“Also note that we did take the opportunity to say that commercial agriculture does not include retail marijuana establishments, including retail marijuana cultivation facilities as defined by state law,” Willis said at the time. “We wanted to make it clear that this is not a work-around (on the marijuana law).”

The proposed changes come to the City Council following work by the Ordinance Review Committee in October 2017 and a public hearing and review and by the Planning Board in November 2017.

Elected officials are also expected tom meet James Dinkle, new president of First Park, the business park of the Kennebec Regional Development Authority in Oakland, and also consider:

• Setting minimum bids for three tax-acquired properties — 28 Spring St., 14 Plummer St., and 494 Water St.;

• Appointing two Gardiner residents, Amy Dyer and Rus Baer to boards and committees;

• Granting a special event permit for the Maine Summer Adventure Race;

Advertisement

• Granting a victualers license to Locos Southwestern Grill, formerly Red’s Pizza;

• Granting a liquor license renewal for The Depot Pub; and

• Extending the memorandum of understanding for interim city manager services.

Two executive sessions are also scheduled for the end of the meeting. One is to discuss employee compensation, the other is to discuss the pending vacancy of the city’s economic development coordinator position and for city councilors to give direction to city staff.

Jessica Lowell — 621-5632

jlowell@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @JLowellKJ

Copy the Story Link

Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.

filed under: