The city is considering a change to marijuana regulations that could allow more opportunity for pot shops to open.
Marijuana business owners asked the city to consider changing how it measures buffers between marijuana shops and areas where children gather and addiction treatment facilities, said planner Heather Bailey.
The city is seeking input from others before changing the city code, which could happen this summer, she said.
Buffers are based on an “as the crow flies” measurement between marijuana shops and other properties.
Durango City Council may base buffers on the most direct pedestrian route, which would create more opportunity for marijuana business owners, Bailey said.
It would also bring marijuana regulations more in line with the rules for businesses with liquor license regulations and potentially make the city more business friendly, she said.
The change would affect the 1,000-foot buffer around schools, some preschools, addiction treatment facilities where patients stay overnight and residential child care facilities, such state-run foster care homes, she said.
It would also affect the 250-foot buffer around public parks with playground equipment, she said.
The council recently approved 250-foot buffers between marijuana shops in the Central Business District. The business buffer is not measured by pedestrian routes.
There will be a discussion about the change at the meeting, and attendees will be asked to submit a comment about the buffers in writing, Bailey said.
The city has not received any comments on the proposal, she said.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
If you go
The city’s Community Development Department will host a forum to discuss a change to buffers between marijuana shops and areas where children gather from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave.
