Council delays decision on cannabis zoning

FINDLAY — Public opposition to proposed cannabis zoning for the city of Findlay was strong enough Tuesday to postpone a vote by city council. Residents packed council's chambers during a public hearing on the legislation, scheduled for just five minutes before the start of council's regular meeting. The hearing delayed the start of the regular meeting by nearly 45 minutes as opponents argued against the zoning changes. Most of the focus was on the proximity of a proposed retail cannabis "overlay" on West Main Cross Street and its proximity to the Liberty-Benton School District campus, at 9190 County Road 9. Council voted 6-2 to delay the decision, with councilmen Brian Bauman, R-5, and Jim Niemeyer, R-6, opposed. Councilmen Grant Russel and Jeff Wobser, both R-at-large, were absent from Tuesday's meeting. The legislation was up for its third and final public reading before council's scheduled vote on Tuesday. Newly appointed City Law Director Robert Feighner Jr. advised council against tabling the ordinance and said the vote can only be postponed until a specific date. In this case, it's council's next regular meeting on March 18, when a decision must be made. Should the legislation fail, it would then have to be reintroduced to council for further consideration, Feighner said. It was unclear Tuesday what action council will take moving forward, with just two weeks until its next meeting. Four areas of the city have been identified for the retail overlay, including Tiffin Avenue; Hancock County Road 99-Interstate 75; Trenton Avenue, west of I-75; and West Main Cross Street and I-75. The proposed legislation would limit the number of retail locations to two within the city and allow for growing and processing facilities in I-1, light industrial, districts. The new rules don't limit the number of industrial sites in the city.