Globe City Council approves changing location of medical marijuana growing facility

Globe — At its regular meeting on Monday night, the Globe City Council voted 6-0 to approve a change of the conditional use permit issued to Globe Farmacy Inc., allowing the non-profit company to change the location of a medical marijuana growing facility from 200 W. Ash St. to 171 W. Mesquite St.

In February 2011, the council approved Globe Farmacy, a non-profit organization, to house a growing facility at 200 W. Ash St. and a dispensary at 200 N. Broad St., kitty corner to Hollis Cinemas 4. However, Globe Farmacy hadn’t been able to finalize a purchase or lease of the building at 200 W. Ash St., and therefore needed a new building to house the growing facility.

According to Globe Farmacy officials, the new location adjacent to the old Elks building was chosen for its “subterranean feel” and proximity to the police and fire stations.

The council held a 1-hour, 50-minute public hearing regarding the issue at its July 9 meeting, with many citizens and downtown business owners voicing their support both for and against the new location. This was after the Globe Planning and Zoning Commission also held a similarly lengthy public hearing, and took no action on the matter.

Interim city attorney Bill Sims told the council Monday that his and staff’s recommendation was to “approve the agenda item ... as long as the conditions in the conditional use permit are met, you’re obligated to issue the conditional use permit.

“You will be able to review this conditional use permit in August 2013.”

Mayor Terry Wheeler allowed for public comment on the matter, but local business owner Sarah Bernstein was the only citizen to speak. Bernstein first wondered if it was true that the reason Globe Farmacy wanted to change locations was because rent at the original location had risen from $1,000 a month to $4,000 a month.

Councilman James Haley explained to Bernstein that the council could not take something like that into consideration when considering the matter. The council was strictly reviewing whether all the conditions of the conditional use permit had been met.

For the complete article see the 07-18-2012 issue.

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