BELLVILLE — The village of Bellville has scheduled a public meeting for community members to voice their opinions on the operation of a marijuana dispensary within village limits.
The meeting will take place March 21 at 5:30 at the Butler Event Center, located at 111 W. Elm Street in Butler.
“Thanks goes to Mayor Dingus of Butler for providing a large enough wonderful space to host this meeting,” Bellville Mayor Teri Brenkus wrote in a public notice.
Last year, Ohio-based Standard Wellness applied for a permit to operate a marijuana dispensary on the north edge of the village, near the OH-97/I-71 interchange.
A vote by the village planning commission on whether to grant Standard Wellness a conditional use permit tied 2-2. A few weeks later, village council imposed a six-month moratorium on cannabis sales in January.
The moratorium came after several community members asked council to immediately ban marijuana sales in the village. Council members saying they wanted more community input on the matter.
“We just want the process to slow down so the community has time to hear all the information,” council member Deb Carver told Richland Source in January.
What if I can’t attend the meeting?
Community members who aren’t able to attend the meeting can share their opinion by contacting Brenkus or members of village council. Their email addresses are listed below. Please include name and address with your correspondence.
Ian Ball Ian.ball.bellvillevc@gmail.com
JJ Burkhart JJburkhart.bellville.oh@gmail.com
Debra Carver debcarver.bellville.oh@gmail.com
Justin Enix Justinenix.bellville.ohio@gmail.com
Tim Truex TimTruex.bellville.oh@gmail.com
Jason Guilliams Jasonguilliams.bellville.oh@gmail.com
Or Mayor Brenkus at mayor@bellvilleohio.net
How are other Richland County communities addressing marijuana sales?
Ohioans passed Issue 2 last November, which legalizes recreational marijuana use and home grow but also permits municipalities to ban commercial sales.
Ontario City Council voted earlier this week to impost a six-month moratorium on recreational cannibas businesses.
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.”
Madison Township, the village of Lexington, the city of Shelby, Washington Township and the city of Ashland have all banned commercial marijuana sales.
