After about half an hour or more of presentations from medical marijuana business owners from Flint and Gaylord along with a Detroit attorney for the Owosso Relief Center, Corunna Avenue at Washington, and City Council discussions, the vote was tied 3-3 on sending a request to the city Planning Commission on possibly adding addiction treatment centers to the Code’s distance requirements for medical marijuana dispensaries.
Both Councilman Burton Fox, who made the motion to refer the question to the planning commission, and Councilman Rob Teich who opposed sending the issue to planners, said the Owosso Relief Center, which opened after conferring with City Hall officials on an acceptable location based on the present Code’s distance separation requirements, probably would be grandfathered, thus not affected by any change in the city’s requirements.
Councilmembers Elaine Greenway, Teich and Mayor Pro Tem Chris Eveleth voted “No” on referring the question to the planning commission. Councilmen Fox and Michael O’Leary along with Mayor Ben Frederick voted “Yes,” thus the tie meant no action. Councilwoman Lori Bailey was absent.
Since there was a tie, the entire question could be raised at a future meeting by any of the councilmembers. The next council meeting is 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, a day later than usual because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Action that night would still be in time for the planning commission’s meeting at 7 p.m. the following Monday.
