Belleville considers eliminating city medical marijuana zoning ordinance

After a lengthy presentation by attorney Steve Hitchcock on Nov. 7, the Belleville City Council said it would look into eliminating the stand-alone zoning ordinance putting medical marijuana activity in the Industrial zoning district.
Hitchcock said in September the Michigan Legislature passed the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act, which was signed by the Governor. It will take effect Dec. 20, 2016, but no one can apply for a license under this Act for 360 days following the effective date.
After spelling out all the details of the new law, Hitchcock said if the city doesn’t want to have medical marijuana sites it can amend the zoning ordinance to take out the special zoning.
“You can take that out and not have anything,” attorney Hitchcock said. “You might not want growers in a small, tight community like this.”
Hitchcock said it is a long Act and does dramatically change the footprint of marijuana in the state. He said this new Act is considered a step toward legalization of recreational marijuana in the state and he expects that to be on an upcoming ballot.
Mayor Kerreen Conley said the council will do something within the next year on this after a public meeting to get the residents’ viewpoints. She asked the city manager to put it on the Follow-Up List.
Mayor Conley said they also want to have another public meeting on roads before the end of the year.
In other business at the Nov. 7 meeting, the council:
• Learned the Special Events Ordinance is being worked on by City Manager Diana Kollmeyer, Councilman Tom Fielder, and billing clerk Kim Tindall and is expected to be on the agenda of the next regular meeting;
• Heard Councilman Fielder read a proclamation designating the month of November as Veteran’s History and Appreciation Month in the City of Belleville;
• Approved the Belleville Area Chamber of Commerce’s plans for the Winter Fest activities on Dec. 2 and 3 and Parade of Lights on Dec. 3. Main Street will be closed from Third to Fifth streets from noon to 8 p.m. on Dec. 3, with a rolling street closure from 6 to 8 p.m. for the parade from the high school on West Columbia Avenue to Five Points and up Main to the closure at Third and beyond. They will put a tent up at the Fourth Street Square because the BYC will not be having the skating rink this year. Animal Magic will perform there Dec. 2 and 3;
• Approved the chamber’s annual fireworks display set for the Denton Road Bridge at 8 p.m. on Dec. 3. It will be put on by Great Lakes Fireworks and is paid for by the Belleville Yacht Club;
• Approved the Jingle Bell 1K and 5K Runs at 9:45 and 10 a.m. on Dec. 3, beginning at High Street, with High Street closed between Main and Church. The run heads out Main Street on the parking lane and to the Denton Road Bridge and out into the township and then back to the starting point;
• Approved accounts payable of $42,243.22 and the following departmental purchases in excess of $500: to Blue Ribbon Contracting, $3,729 for sewer/road repair, $1,367 for fire hydrant repair, and $504 for sewer repair; to MDEQ $1,278.78 for annual fee; and to Wise Tech. $573.75 for computer network; and
• Learned several people have turned in applications for the vacant city council seat and they have until 4 p.m., Nov. 10, to apply. The council will meet in special session at 6 p.m. Nov. 15, to select someone to serve on the council for the next year. The vacancy was created by the resignation of Kim Tindall.