Members of the Sumpter Township Board of Trustees unanimously approved changes to local ordinances governing zoning for the growing of marijuana.
The changes to the local ordinances were recommended to the board of trustees by members of the township planning commission in an effort to reconcile the local ordinances with state regulations, explained Trustee Matt Oddy, who also serves on the planning commission. He explained that the recommendation was “in the spirit of matching the current marijuana licensing with current township zoning.”
The changes will restrict the growing of marijuana in the township for commercial purposes to areas zoned as light industrial.
The changes will not affect current commercial growers or those growing marijuana under the Michigan Marijuana Act (MMA) in their primary residence. The ordinances will affect any new commercial growers in Sumpter Township.Oddy explained that the township had ordinances in place for provisioning centers but the Michigan Townships Association recommended a change to ensure compliance with all state laws. Oddy explained that the ordinance amendment does not restrict caregivers growing at homes or current commercial operations.
“If they are already operating we would consider them legal under MMA,” Oddy explained in response to a question from Trustee Peggy Morgan about the effect on current commercial growers.
Township attorney Rob Young said commercial operations would remain within the law “as long as they continue without interruption. If they shut down for any amount of time, and then reopen, it would have to be in a light industrial zone,” he said.
A decision by the Michigan State Supreme Court allows municipalities to regulate locations of marijuana growing through zoning regulations.
Discussion of the amendments took place at planning commission meetings and at three public meetings. A public hearing on the matter took place in December.
Trustee Don LaPorte was excused from the meeting.
