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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 2015)
6 A SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015 Council approves medical marijuana zoning, business license B Y C HANTELLE M EYER Siuslaw News Florence City Council met Tuesday, Feb. 17, to approve the first and second ordinances of 2015, both of which concerned medical marijuana dispensaries. They approved expanded zon- ing, opened up more commer- cial areas along Highway 101 and increased leniency on build- ing requirements for the dispen- saries. After little discussion, both ordinances passed unanimously. The decision on both ordi- nances is considered an emer- gency because of the nearing conclusion to the moratorium of Bear medical marijuana dispensaries on March 17. After that date, state law will allow medical marijuana facilities in the city. At the board meeting, Planning Director Wendy FarleyCampbell said, “You decided that it would be best, since you were not the initiating council on these amendments, that you hold a work session. At your Feb. 9 work session, you reviewed code proposal, all the various proposals that had been originally considered and were recommended and identified areas that you would like to see amended.” Members of the council and their staff also spoke with the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce and with concerned citizens. FarleyCampbell summarized the council’s decisions on zon- ing: “In addition to the planning commission’s North Commercial District, you added back in the Highway District, the Commercial District, the Main Street District and the Professional Office District.” The ordinance also changes the residential buffer from the previously-discussed 300 feet to 75 feet. Park buffers were reduced from 400 feet to 200 feet, except Miller Park, which will retain the 400 feet buffer because of its proximity to a day-care center, which has a higher buffer. The Planning Commission proposal considered by the council on Feb. 2 required med- ical marijuana dispensaries be in a stand-alone structure. Now, however, dispensaries in Florence could be co-located with other uses, but they would need to have separate air filtra- tion. One public speaker stepped forward at this point. He was concerned with the cost of a separate HVAC unit, especially as, according to Oregon law, it is illegal to smoke inside a public building. “It was basically to address two potential situations,” said FarleyCampbell. “One would be the smell of the product getting into the circulation system, as brought up under concern from the previous council. The main reason was concern for mold from the product.” The man replied, “Everything that’s in there has to be tested for mold dust and residue, so it should be pretty mold free if you’re worried about mold get- ting into your HVAC. That’s going to restrict a lot of people. It costs a lot of money.” Besides ruling about medical marijuana zones, the council also established business license fees and other guidelines to run a dispensary in Florence. A busi- ness license will be $150 per year. Medical marijuana dispen- saries will also require a crimi- nal history check of $50 per year per person handing useable mar- ijuana within the facility. Mayor Joe Henry concluded the vote, saying, “Very good job. I want to thank you,Wendy, and Mike (Miller) and everyone who put in quite a few hours on this subject.” He also congratulated the rest of the council for passing the ordinances. “That’s carried unanimously. This definitely is the fun part,” he said. to various groups in Florence that would have an interest in a par- ticular subject. “I’m really excited to be able to launch the series with ‘American Bear,’ especially hav- ing the filmmakers here,” he said. O’Mara has applied for grant funding to cover the balance of the student ticket price. A second film documentary field trip is planned for both Mapleton and Siuslaw sixth grade classes called “I am 11,” an Australian film that interviews 11-year-olds from around the world. “It’s a film about life and love from the perspective of 11-year- olds,” O’Mara said. “We hope to schedule it for some time in late May.” from 1A The film chronicles the adven- tures of Sellman and Grano and what they learned about human nature as they traveled around the United States visiting the five towns named Bear. According to O’Mara, the documentary shows the variety of cultures and diver- sity that makes up this country. Mapleton High School’s ninth- to 12th-grade students will partner with Siuslaw High COURTESY PHOTOS School social studies teacher Sarah Sellman and Greg Grano will present their documentary, “American Bear,” at City Lights Cinemas on Feb. 24. Erin Ellis’ sophomore class to view a private screening of the there were five places in the participation after the film.” with the filmmaker and reviewed such as “American Bear”, was film. In all, approximately 135 country called Bear, and it would City Lights Cinemas co- the film. It was Jodi’s interest in one way to achieve that goal. students are expected to attend. make a perfect ‘U’ around the owner Michael Falter said, the film that got things going.” According to Falter, this is the “The cost is $6 per student,” United States. They are in “When Jodi sent me a note about Falter was working on ways to unofficial kickoff to a weekly O’Mara said. “We are asking Washington, Idaho, Arizona, this film to reach students, I reach out to more local students. documentary movie series. The each student to pay $2. An Arkansas and Delaware. We jumped at the chance. I spoke Offering a diversity of films, focus of the series is to reach out anonymous donor paid for the used them as a blueprint for the travel speaking fees to get the route that brought us around the filmmakers here.” country.” From Friday, February 27, 2015 at 8:30 AM through EW ATIENTS ELCOME City Lights Cinemas also will The couple spent 60 nights on Friday, March 6, 2015 at 4:00 PM, the Housing Relaxing riverfront view hold a public viewing of the doc- the road, visiting mostly small And Community Services Agency of Lane County umentary at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. towns. They passed through from all rooms. (HACSA) will temporarily open its Section 8 Housing Regular adult ticket prices will three large cities, Chicago, Choice Voucher waiting list to low income families apply. The filmmakers will intro- Atlanta and Las Vegas, the latter through an on-line (Internet) application process. All duce the film at both showings, two of which they spoke with pre-applications received during this period will be offer discussion questions for the more than 100 people and no one eligible for a random drawing where applications will students and hold a question and invited them to spend the night, be selected for the waiting list. No paper applications answer session at the end of each so they slept in the van. showing. will be accepted. To apply, go directly to https://www. “This only happened four Gentle, Personal, Comprehensive Care O’Mara said, “We are going to times during the entire trip,” he waitlistcheck.com/OR649 or, for additional information ask our kids, ‘How would you be said. “One of the messages in the and a link to the on-line application, go to our web site Tooth Colored Restoration perceived differently in different film is that people in big cities Root Canals • Crown & Bridge • Extractions at www.hacsa.org or call 541-682-7417. parts of the country?’ This is a are a lot less friendly, and small Implant Restorations Cosmetic Dentistry Si usted desea escuchar esta información en español, por favor stretch for our kids because most towns are a lot friendlier. We Teeth Whitening llame a la Agencia de Viviendas (Housing Agency) 541-682-2603. have not been to different parts of have thought about this from a this country.” HACSA does not discriminate on the basis of handicapped status variety of different perspectives. The new CEREC Omnicam in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its Filmmaker Grano said, “We “We learned that much of our “Completing most single federally assisted programs or activities. both tend to be pretty optimistic own identities influenced the crowns in one visit!” about people and that led us to experiences we had. The fact that Housing And Community Services Agency of Lane County create this film. A hopeful mes- Sarah and I are both white, we 177 Day Island Road - Eugene OR 97401 sage on how people can interact are in a heterosexual relationship (541) 682-3755 Dr. Chad Clement with one another. We loved the and we are young had much to opportunity to explore America do with how people interacted Monday-Thursday and discover its stories face to with us. In small towns, particu- 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. face.” larly, we looked like we could fit The original inspiration for the in. While we had wonderful documentary came in the middle experiences in small towns and of the night. met people who were very “I was talking in my sleep one friendly and generous to us, we night. I woke Sarah up. I was think it is important to talk about saying, ‘We need to go to Bear, the fact that this is probably not Co.’ We thought, my gosh, this is the case for everybody that might our destiny; we have to visit this visit that town. place. I had a dream, she heard it, “There were a lot of complex this is important. themes that came to light while “We were disappointed to we were making the film. We learn there is no place called like delving a little deeper into Bear, Co. 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