Healing Center Regulations, Topic of Meeting in Bent County Wednesday
Updated: 3 days ago
~Anne Boswell, with help from CNYW Staff
While Bent County currently doesn't have a business wanting to move in to open a healing center, the Bent County Zoning Board is expected to consider regulations governing where and how they would operate should that happen in the future.
While Bent County currently doesn't have a business wanting to move in to open a healing center, the Bent County Planning and Zoning Commission will consider regulations governing where and how they would operate should that happen in the future. The Zoning Commission does not create local regulations or ordinances. Their job is to research, collect community feedback, and then make recommendations to the Bent County Board of County Commissioners. As a county board, the territory under their jurisdiction is all Bent County land outside city limits of Las Animas. These proposed regulations will be an important step in determining how Bent County handles these establishments as Colorado's natural medicine industry develops under state law.
There are regulations being considered that would mandate an establishment's location, zoning district, and how such a business could affect properties near it.
The Zoning Commission is considering a requirement prohibiting centers from operating within five-hundred feet of the boundary of a residential zoning district, and such a business would also need to be at least one mile from a school or child-care facility.
Lighting requirements are also included and a requirement that natural medicine and related products would need to be stored in permanent, secure places where there would be limited authorized personnel who could access the product. Also, possible odor offenses would be discussed and considered.
Neighboring counties have already adopted similar regulations.
The proposed regulations do not prohibit lawful natural medicine operations authorized under Colorado law. Instead, they establish local land-use and zoning standards for where these businesses could locate and how the properties would be required to operate.
If you'd like to attend Wednesday's meeting, it is at 10am in the basement of the Bent County Courthouse. There is a zoom option.
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