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17 STUDY OF MEDICAL CANNABIS MANUFACTURERS AND CANNABIS FACILITIES CITY OF SAINT ANTHONY VILLAGE 6.0 OPTIONS FOR MEDICAL CANNABIS 6.1 No Action The first option for the City is to take no action. If the City takes no action, medical cannabis dispensaries would likely be treated as pharmacies under the Zoning Code because medical cannabis dispensaries must be operated by a pharmacist and “pharmacy” is not a defined term in the Zoning Code. As a result, taking no action would mean medical cannabis dispensers would likely be a permitted conditional use in the R-4 District, a permitted use in the C District, and a permitted use in the LI District. Furthermore, manufacture and distribution of medical cannabis would be a permitted use in the LI District. Taking no action could create inconsistent land uses because cannabis facilities would be allowed in the vicinity of residential areas, day care centers, schools, parks, libraries and other incompatible uses. As a result, taking no action could adversely affect existing businesses, development, and residential home values. For these reasons, this option is not recommended because it will not protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the City and its people. 6.2 Restricting Cannabis Facilities to LI District Subject to a Buffer The second option is for the City to adopt amendments the Zoning Code to make cannabis facilities a permitted conditional use only in the LI District. Cannabis facilities would be prohibited in all other districts. Cannabis facilities in the LI District would be subject to a buffer requiring the cannabis facilities to be located a certain distance from any sensitive use, including residential areas, day care centers, schools, parks, and libraries. Restricting cannabis facilities to the LI District would exclude cannabis facilities from the R-4 and C Districts, but would allow medical cannabis manufacturers to operate in the LI District. This option is not recommended because the City cannot impose a sufficient buffer distance that would allow medical cannabis facilities as a conditionally permitted use while still protecting sensitive uses. Most cities, including Bloomington, use a 1,000-foot buffer to protect sensitive uses. In the City, however, all of the area within the LI District is within 1,000 feet of a residential district, a park, day care or other sensitive use. A 1,000-foot buffer would, in effect, prohibit cannabis facilities within the City. In order to allow cannabis facilities as a permitted conditional use, the City would have to adopt a buffer that is significantly less than the 1,000- foot buffer that most cities require. As a result, there would be a heightened risk that cannabis facilities would impact sensitive uses within the City. Even with a smaller buffer distance, there would still be conflicting land uses. Day care centers are a permitted conditional use within the LI District. Allowing cannabis facilities in the LI District could limit further development of day care centers within the LI District. For these reasons, this option is not recommend because it will not protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the City and its people. 25