A May moratorium on marijuana operations in Perrysburg has been extended.
A majority of the city council approved the moratorium at Tuesday’s meeting which means it now runs through May 7, 2025. However, councilmen also said they expect the city will soon have a plan for pot.
Councilman Tim McCarthy, who is chairman of the planning and zoning committee, said the moratorium extends to retail dispensaries, cultivators, and processors of cannabis.
“The state is still finalizing regulations in this area,” he said, adding that the committee agreed on recommending the moratorium extension to May 7.
Tim Effler, Perrysburg law director, said the current moratorium expires Dec. 3.
“The moratorium is not saying we’re going to — for the end of time — not allow dispensaries or cultivation,” said Councilman Cory Kuhlman. “It’s because the guidelines just came from Ohio and we’re taking time to prepare guidelines.”
He said there has already been contact with one stakeholder in the cannabis business.
Kevin Fuller, council president, said he will continue his stance against business moratoriums in the city. The council needs to send a message that the city is open to all types of business, he said.
The ordinance to extend the moratorium passed 6-1, with Mr. Fuller against.
After the meeting, Councilman Rick Rettig said truly understanding the state guidelines will allow city leaders to make better decisions regarding dispensaries, cultivators, and processors.
“That way we’re not coming back to the table and recreating the wheel, since we had partial limitations,” he said. “Once we get full information we’ll be able to actually put together some rules and regulations, and have a full understanding of what we can and cannot do regarding those types of business.
“To be honest, I think it’s just a matter of time until that ends up getting approved,” Mr. Rettig added. “It’s a shifting culture.”
He was asked where he sees a dispensary eventually locating in Perrysburg.
“No idea,” he said. “I think that’s the point, is that I would support what Kevin [Fuller] was talking about, as far as being open for business.”
The council needs to be thoughtful and organized with its zoning, to try to eliminate controversy like there was earlier in the Tuesday meeting with rezoning, Mr. Rettig said. That was in reference to the 24 acres near Costco, off Eckel Junction Road, rumored to be the location of a future Topgolf. The acreage is near condominiums and a residential neighborhood.
“We need to make sure we do it right the first time, and not have to have businesses in locations where residents have some concerns,” he said.
According to the ordinance, on Nov. 7, 2023, Ohioans voted to approve Issue 2, the Marijuana Legalization Initiative, which made adult recreational marijuana use, cultivation, and retail sale legal effective Dec. 7, 2023.
The City of Perrysburg is in the process of reviewing whether to limit or prohibit the cultivation, processing and/or dispensing of adult use cannabis, or, alternatively, to develop and implement regulations regarding the locations and operations of marijuana-related businesses within the city. This ordinance extends the moratorium during the review and study of these use issues.
Also at the meeting, Mr. McCarthy said the discussion on a car wash moratorium in Perrysburg, which is expiring in January, will be before the council at the Dec. 3 meeting.
First Published November 21, 2024, 8:03 p.m.
