At their meeting 8:30 a.m. Thursday, the Carson City Board of Supervisors will consider a new ordinance that would keep the number of marijuana dispensaries in the city at two and regulate curbside pickup. According to Planning Manager Heather Ferris, the ordinance would specify the requirement of a special use permit for curbside pickup services. “On Aug. 5, 2021, the board considered an ordinance to prohibit curbside pickup service for medical marijuana dispensaries and retail marijuana stores. The board rejected the proposed ordinance and instead directed staff to submit, at a later date, a revised ordinance to establish various curbside pickup service provisions,” Ferris wrote in her staff report. “The proposed ordinance was initially delayed and the provisions were to be added in conjunction with the comprehensive revisions to CCMC Title 18, which are currently in progress. However, because another application requesting an amendment to the same section of CCMC has been received and will be considered by the board, this proposed ordinance addressing curbside pickup service is being submitted at the same time.” That applicant is Las Vegas-based Qualcan, which wants to build a new dispensary in south Carson City. It is proposing a separate ordinance to allow drive-through services and to increase the number of marijuana stores allowed — currently city code allows two — among other provisions. Last month, the planning commission rejected Qualcan’s requested changes to the code and made it clear it does not regulate state marijuana policy after debate broke out between the applicant and local producers and retailers. The latter want a shot at the market should city code be changed to allow more establishments. Qualcan warned of a potential cannabis monopoly. Neighbors close to the development also spoke out against the dispensary, specifically the proposed drive-through. The new ordinance — to be considered before Qualcan’s request — would prohibit drive-through service, limit business hours to 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and would require stores be more than 300 feet from residential property and 1,000 feet from schools. Furthermore, curbside pickup could only be provided with customer appointments. Most notably, the ordinance would keep the city’s limit of two medical marijuana establishments and require retail to co-locate with them. Other matters before the board: • Supervisors will be asked to approve a final subdivision map of the Andersen Ranch project creating 203 residential lots near Mountain Street. The board approved a tentative map in 2020, and developers have since graded the site and began installing infrastructure. • Supervisors will be asked to approve final subdivision maps for two phases of the Blackstone Ranch project creating 123 residential lots south of Hogan Peak Street. Tentative subdivision maps for the project were approved in 2017. Site improvements have begun, backed by performance bonds. • The board will discuss and take possible action on American Rescue Plan Act funds being awarded to programs that support unsheltered individuals and emergency housing. In 2021, the board approved expenditure plans of ARPA funding for mental health and substance abuse treatment services, crisis intervention and other behavioral health services, and for affordable housing and rent subsidies. “Carson City has seen a significant increase in the homeless population in the last few years. The Carson City Housing Committee was created to develop a comprehensive housing plan with the goal of assisting the Carson City homeless population in transitioning from being unsheltered to sheltered,” Nicki Aaker and Mary Jane Ostrander of the health and human services department wrote in their staff report. For information about Thursday’s meeting, visit https://www.carson.org/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/11367/14.
