ONTARIO — Ontario City Council voted Wednesday night to approve a six-month moratorium on recreational cannabis businesses.
The vote was unanimous among the seven voting members of council. Council President Eddie Gallo, who only votes on legislation in the case of a tie, said he has received some calls from out-of-state entities about the issue.
“I received a few calls this week, I know that our zoning inspector has already entertained a call or two,” the council president said. “I think it’s worth our time to put a little bit of thought into not just going into the latest trend.”
The moratorium states the city will temporarily halt any consideration of “local licensing approval, and any zoning, occupancy or other permits relating to cultivators, processors or retail dispensaries of marijuana within the city.”
There are no any formal requests for licenses or zoning related to retail cannabis institutions in Ontario. The ordinance was passed as an emergency on Wednesday after council members voted to suspend their normal rules requiring three readings.
According to the Richland County Board of Elections, the City of Ontario recorded a 52% vote against Issue 2, with the measure failing by 103 votes. Only Ontario’s 2-A precinct recorded a majority in favor of Issue 2.
The moratorium may be revisited after six months for council to determine whether to extend it.
Ontario City Council voted in 2017 to place a six-month moratorium on dispensaries following the state’s legalization of medical marijuana. Council members then extended the moratorium into 2018.
“Like most of the communities in our area, we’re still a little bit wary about the unknowns about the legislation that was voted through back in the fall,” Gallo said.
“This doesn’t mean we will be against them in the future, but until the state finalizes all the regulations surrounding these types of businesses, we’re going to just take a pause on it, be cautious and move forward with due diligence.”
Lexington-Springmill Road water line project update
Also on Wednesday, service-safety director Kris Knapp said the water line project on Lexington-Springmill Road is scheduled for work in the middle of the intersection with Park Avenue West the evening of March 11.
“They’re all the way down to that intersection with the main line,” Knapp said. “We’ve asked them to do this at night for traffic. The tap is in the middle of the intersection.
“Lex-Springmill and Park Avenue West will both go down to one lane on Monday because of that work. You’ll still be able to turn, but there will only be one lane there.”
The construction team placed the fire service line to the Hawkins Senior Center on March 6. As of Wednesday, Knapp said the contractor had placed 1360 feet of 1900 feet of the 12-inch water line.
“I would avoid that intersection however possible after 7 p.m. Monday,” Knapp said. “They’re starting that work Monday night at 8 p.m. and that’s going to be a 6- to 7-hour job.
“The less traffic, the easier it will be.”
Knapp said a police cruiser will be stationed at the intersection for safety. The construction team will have to pour concrete on Tuesday night after completing the water line placement Monday, but the concrete project will be faster.
Also in Wednesday’s meeting:
- Council read a proposed expansion of the community reinvestment area program in the city. This change would expand available CRA zones to the entire city, with approval for tax breaks still required by council. A CRA is meant to encourage mixed-use development in the city such as housing, retail or other projects that will increase jobs. The legislation is due for a third reading and vote on March 20. The city currently has a CRA agreement with Ontario Industrial Park and an enterprise zone with Shambaugh Cleaning & Restoration.
- The finance committee discussed the permanent 2024 budget, including revenue, public works funds and other expenses. The budget is due for a second reading March 20 and will be voted on April 3.
- Economic development committee chair Josh Bradley said the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee met with Reveille president Glenn Grisdale to discuss survey results so far. Anyone can still take the survey online.
- Mayor Randy Hutchinson said the city has ordered veteran banners for more than 40 local veterans to be displayed on light poles by Memorial Day.
- Knapp said the city will provide spring brush pickup from March 25 through April 12.
- Walker Lake Road resident Marc Vanerio said most of the homeowner’s issues with Menards self-storage units construction have been fixed. He said there are still some stormwater and drainage issues washing debris into his property, but Knapp said Menards has hired an engineer to review their plans and work with the city going forward.
- Hutchinson said the city will host an Easter egg hunt at Marshall Park’s ball fields for children ages 3 through 10 on March 30. The Ontario Lions Club will also host an egg hunt for visually impaired children at the tennis courts that afternoon.