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or sell recreational marijuana. As part of the licensing “We don’t get a lot of complaints,” Crowdis said.
process, applicants are required to submit a Land Use “When we do, it’s usually about odor — people
Compatibility Statement (LUCS) to the County. A LUCS, objecting to the smell of the plants. But there’s
which includes a site plan and written description of nothing we can do about that. We treat marijuana
the proposed activity, determine whether a land use grows like we treat any farming operation.
proposal is consistent with local government’s Sometimes, farming can be smelly.”
comprehensive plan and land use regulations.
Treating marijuana as a farm crop is
Tom Harry, interim principal planner, Current one premise of B-Engrossed Ordinance No. 810,
Planning, was surprised by the level of interest. which went into effect Nov. 25, 2016. Unlike the first
ordinance, B-Engrossed Ordinance No. 810 includes
“I spent the entire month of January and a good regulations addressing OLCC-licensed activity,
portion of February talking to people who wanted including marijuana growing and processing. Under
to grow, process or sell recreational marijuana,” Harry the ordinance, outdoor marijuana grows outside the
said. “We accepted 18 LUCS in the first four days. Urban Growth Boundary must be 50 feet from
By the end of January, we had accepted 34.” property lines, and all indoor grows are required
to have air filtration systems.
A total of 162 LUCS were accepted by LUT in FY
2015–16. Kellie Crowdis, planning assistant, said “But other than that, the ordinance generally
she still receives three or four calls per week from treats marijuana like any other farm crop,” Shane said.
people interested in starting recreational marijuana “Marijuana growers have the same rights under state
operations. She also gets the occasional complaint. laws as other farmers in the county.”

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