NEWBERG COUNCIL DELAYS DECISION ON ACCEPTING NEW ZONING FOR RECREATION

The Newberg city council has delayed a decision on changing the city's development code to allow for recreational marijuana producers and processors.

The proposal from the marijuana advisory committee, planning commission and staff was to prohibit recreational marijuana production in residential and commercial zones, but to allow it in industrial

However, the council wants to look at allowing recreational marijuana production in at least one commercial zone after comments from Sherri Ralston, who owns a 

medical dispensary. She is looking at using a former bank building , in part because of the security provided by a former bank vault. Ralston says Colorado officials are finding out that marijuana extract is a bigger theft target than cash. The problem is this building is on land zoned commercial, and the proposed code would forbid it.

Ralston's arguments made sense to councilors and they have directed city staff to look at the issues in allowing some facilities, at least possible this one, in a commercial zone. The council will consider it again April fourth. The public record has been closed on this development code proposal, so no more public testimony will be taken.