Big Rapids officials consider changes to ordinance
Big Rapids city commissioners are considering changes to the city’s marijuana ordinance that could eliminate curbside service for businesses in the downtown area.
During a meeting this week, community development director Paula Priebe told the board there is a proposed substantive change to the marijuana ordinance regarding curbside sales and dispensing that she wanted to present to the board for feedback.
The ordinance, which currently states, “mobile marijuana facilities and drive through operations are prohibited” would be changed to include “curbside sales and dispensing are allowed only in private, off-street parking lots when a ‘Curbside Sales and Dispensing Designation’ has been approved as part of the Municipal Marihuana Operating Permit.”
“Curbside was prohibited from the get-go, but no one foresaw the pandemic where every business does curbside now,” Priebe said.
“We have been allowing it and saying that we would come back and address it in the text at some point.”
“If the business doesn’t have its own off-street parking — mostly the downtown ones that use the municipal parking lots or street parking — they would no longer be allowed to have curbside pick up according to the change,” she said.
Big Rapids attorney Eric Williams told the board that the adjustment in the language of the ordinance is simple and direct, and it addresses the issue of curbside service in the downtown area.
“They are prohibited in the public streets and sidewalks, which is an issue in the downtown area of Big Rapids, and this addresses that.” Williams said. “It is only going to be allowed with a designation that is added to the permit and it has to be approved. Businesses can’t just do it, they have to ask the city for the extra designation.
Some commissioners expressed concern about pushback from the downtown businesses should they adopt the amendments and asked if there had been any outreach to the businesses to get their feedback on the proposed change.
Priebe said they wanted to present it to the board first to see if it was something they would be in favor of before going through the planning commission.
“If it is something you are not in favor of, we wouldn’t make the change at the planning commission level,” she said.
“If it is something you are considering, then we would go to the planning commission. If it goes to the planning commission for discussion and public hearing, then they (the businesses) would all be invited to participate in that discussion.”
A public hearing on any proposed changes will be held prior to the recommendation of the planning commission. The date for a public hearing has not yet been set.
Change to Business Regulations Ordinance
In other business, the board adopted a change to the city’s code of ordinances regarding peddlers and transient merchants.
The language in the ordinance is being changed to clarify that all licenses will expire Dec. 31 at midnight regardless of when the license is issued.
“The point is to make it clear to everyone that gets a license when the license will expire,” Williams said.
“This is an effort at clarity so that businesses will know exactly when their license expires.”
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