18-2135_Failed -Amending Chapter 22 to Prohibit Medical Marijuana Treatment Center Facilities
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ORDINANCE NO. 18-2135
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LONGWOOD, FLORIDA
AMENDING CHAPTER 22 OF THE CITY CODE OF
ORDINANCES TO PROHIBIT MEDICAL MARIJUANA
TREATMENT CENTER DISPENSING FACILITIES WITHIN THE
BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION
381.986, FLORIDA STATUTES; PROVIDING LEGISLATIVE
FINDINGS; REPEALING ORDINANCE 17-2116 WHICH
AMENDED ARTICLES II, V, AND XIII OF THE LONGWOOD
DEVELOPMENT CODE TO CREATE PROVISIONS TO
REGULATE MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES WHICH
HAS NOW BEEN PREMPTED BY STATE LAW; PROVIDING FOR
CODIFICATION, MORATORIUM CONTIGENCY;
SEVERABILITY, CONFLICTS, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Longwood has the authority to adopt this Ordinance pursuant to
Article VIII of the Constitution of the State of Florida; Chapters 163 & 166, Florida Statutes; and
Section 381.986, Florida Statutes; and
WHEREAS, Section 381.986(11), Florida Statutes, authorizes a county or municipality to
m being located within the
WHEREAS
does not ban dispensing facilities under this subparagraph may not place specific limits, by
ordinance, on the number of dispensing facilities that may locate within that county or
enact ordinances for permitting or for determining the location of dispensing facilities which are
more restrictive than its ordinances permitting or determining the locations for pharmacies licensed
WHEREAS, Section 381.986, Florida Statutes severely limits, through State preemption,
l over the zoning and permitting of medical marijuana dispensaries, thereby
substantially surrounding land uses for which dispensaries
may not be compatible; and
WHEREAS, prior to the enactment of Section 381.986, Florida Statutes, on May 1, 2017
the City adopted Ordinance 17-2116 to regulate and limit medical marijuana dispensaries and such
ordinance is now preempted by Section 381.986, Florida Statutes; and
Ordinance No. 18-2135
Page 1 of 4
WHEREAS, given, among other things, the potential negative secondary land use effects
of medical marijuana dispensing facilities and the statutory restrictions on local government
authority to regulate number and location of dispensing facilities if not banned, there is a rational
basis for the City to exercise its authority under Section 381.986(11), Florida Statutes to ban
dispensing facilities within the boundaries of the City; and
WHEREAS, the City finds that this Ordinance is in the interests of the public health,
safety, and welfare.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF LONGWOOD, FLORIDA:
SECTION 1. Recitals. The foregoing recitals are hereby ratified and confirmed as being
true and correct and are hereby made a part of this Ordinance and adopted as legislative findings.
SECTION 2. Amendment of City Code. Chapter of the City
of Longwood Code is hereby amended to add a new Article VI to read as follows:
CHAPTER 22 - BUSINESSES
Article VI. Medical Marijuana Dispensary.
Sec. 22-71. Medical Marijuana Treatment Center Dispensing Facilities.
(1) Prohibition. Medical Marijuana Treatment Center Dispensing Facilities are prohibited
and shall not be located within the boundaries of the city. The city shall not accept, process
or approve any request or application for a development order, building permit or other
approval associated with a proposed Medical Marijuana Treatment Center Dispensing
Facility.
(2) Definition. For the purposes of this section, the term Medical Marijuana Treatment
Center Dispensing Facility means any facility where medical marijuana or any product
derived therefrom is dispensed at retail.
(3) Interpretation. This section and the terms used herein shall be interpreted in accordance
with F.S. § 381.986 and Ch. 64-4 of the Florida Administrative Code. The intent of this
section is to ban medical marijuana treatment center dispensing facilities from being
located within the boundaries of the city as authorized by F.S. § 381.986(11).
Ordinance No. 18-2135
Page 2 of 4
SECTION 3. Repeal. Ordinance 17-2116 adopted on May 1, 2017 is hereby repealed
except for the amendment to the note for Figure 12.1.1 - Table of Allowable Uses in ARTICLE XII
HERITAGE VILLAGE URBAN CODE. The Longwood Development Code shall be amended
accordingly reflected in attached hereto and incorporated herein.
SECTION 4. Codification. Section 2 of this Ordinance shall be incorporated into the
City of Longwood City Code of Ordinances and Section 3 of this Ordinance shall be incorporated
into the Longwood Development Code. Any section, paragraph number, letter and/or any heading
may be changed or modified as necessary to effectuate the foregoing. Grammatical, typographical
and similar or like errors may be corrected, and additions, alterations, and omissions not affecting
the construction or meaning of this Ordinance or the City Code may be freely made.
SECTION 5. Moratorium Contingency. In the event Section 381.986, Florida Statutes
is amended or interpreted by a court of competent jurisdiction in a way as to eliminate or prevent
the cor prohibit Marijuana Treatment Center Dispensing Facilities within the
city limits, upon the effective date of such an automatic one-year moratorium shall go into place
on the acceptance, processing and approval of Marijuana Treatment Center Dispensing Facilities
(including by way of acceptance, proceeding and approval of applications for development orders
and permits) within the City limits in order to give the City time to evaluate changes in the
potentially enact local
legislation regarding the same. Such one-year moratorium may be terminated early through
resolution or ordinance of the City Commission.
SECTION 6. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, word
or provision of this Ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court
of competent jurisdiction, whether for substantive, procedural, or any other reason, such portion
shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision, and such holding shall not affect
the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance.
SECTION 7. Conflicts. In the event of a conflict or conflicts between this Ordinance and
any other ordinance or provision of law, this Ordinance controls to the extent of the conflict, as
allowable under the law.
SECTION 8. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon
adoption by the City Commission of the City of Longwood, Florida.
th
FIRST READING on this 5 day of February, 2018
SECOND READING AND ADOPTION this ___________, 2018
Ordinance No. 18-2135
Page 3 of 4
CITY OF LONGWOOD, FLORIDA
______________________________
Ben Paris, Mayor
ATTEST:
__________________________________
Michelle Longo, City Clerk, CMC, FCRM
Approved as to form for use and reliance by the City of Longwood only:
__________________________
Daniel W. Langley, City Attorney
S:\\AKA\\CLIENTS\\Longwood, City of\\General L324-21313\\Medical Marijuana\\Ordinance 18-2125 - Banning Medical Marijuana Dispensaries 1-22-2018.docx
Ordinance No. 18-2135
Page 4 of 4
EXHIBIT A
The Longwood Development Code shall be amended as follows (Words that are stricken out are
deletions; words that are underlined are additions; Articles, Sections, Subsections and Provisions
not referenced in this ordinance are not modified):
ARTICLE II LAND USE AND OVERLAY DISTRICTS
2.3.1. Table of allowable uses. The following uses are allowable, subject to the standards,
regulations, and criteria of this code and the Longwood Comprehensive Plan, and may be further
restricted by the planning districts in the Longwood Design Guidebook. All uses, unless exempted
specifically or by supplemental standards or definition, must be contained within a principal
structure. A principal structure may not be a tent, trailer, canopy, shed, tent, or similar structure.
The use table is intended to apply to new development or changes of use that create impacts that
are not supported by the site:
A = allowable, subject to the standards, regulations and criteria of this Code.
S = allowable, subject to the standards, regulations, and criteria of this Code and
supplemental standards of section 5.4.0, pertaining to the specific use. Where a use is
subject to supplemental standards, the specific section is included in parentheses.
C = subject to a Conditional Use Permit
PD = subject to planned development approval
* = Uses allowed only as an accessory use
o = Allowed only in multi-unit centers
= Prohibited on properties adjacent to CR 427 south of SR 434 (except property which is
located directly adjacent to the intersection of CR 427 and SR 434 provided that such
property is developed with superior architectural design which exceeds standard LDC
requirements and is comparable in nature to the requirements for new commercial
construction in the Longwood Historic District as well as superior streetscaping and
landscaping)
= Prohibited on properties adjacent to SR 434 and CR 427
Medium
Medium Neighborho
Low Density Infill
Density od Public/
Density Residentiand IndustriConservati
ResidentiCommerciaInstitution
Residential Mixeal on
al l Mixed-al
al (MDR-d-Use
(MDR-7) Use
15)
Medical
Marijuan
S
a
Dispensa
Page 1
ry
(5.4.20)
ARTICLE V SUPPLEMENTAL STANDARDS
5.4.20 Medical Marijuana Dispensaries.
A. The purpose of this section is to protect the public health, safety, and welfare by prescribing
the manner and standards under which a medical marijuana dispensary may be approved
for locating and conducting business in the city. The regulations contained in this section
are intended to:
1. Provide for the lawful, safe sale and distribution of marijuana for medical use to
qualifying patients who are authorized to legally obtain, possess, and use medical
marijuana or to personal caregivers authorized to obtain and possess marijuana in
accordance with state law; and
2. Protect public health and safety through reasonable limitations on business
operations as they relate to noise and public safety, security for the business and its
personnel, and other health and safety concerns; and
3. Promote and protect the character and vitality of the city's residential
neighborhoods and commercial districts through site development standards for
dispensaries and limiting location of dispensaries to the Infill and Mixed-Use
District, excluding the Heritage Village; and
4. Protect sensitive land uses from the potential adverse impacts of dispensaries by
requiring physical separation between such uses as schools and child care centers;
and
5. Prohibit any cultivation and processing of marijuana within the city limits; and
6. Provide for the allowance of two medical marijuana dispensaries consistent with
state law.
B. Unless otherwise indicated, the following words and phrases used in this article shall have
the following meanings:
1. Marijuana has the same meaning given cannabis in F.S. § 893.02(3).
2. Medical marijuana dispensary shall mean a business licensed to dispense marijuana
for medical use pursuant to applicable law and that is engaged in the retail sale of
marijuana or products derived from marijuana.
3. Medical use means the acquisition, possession, use, delivery, transfer, or
administration of marijuana or related supplies by a qualifying patient or personal
caregiver for use by a qualifying patient for the treatment of a debilitating medical
condition.
4. Personal caregiver means a person who is at least 21 years old who has agreed to
assist with a qualifying patient's medical use of marijuana and has a caregiver
identification card issued by the Florida Department of Health.
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5. Qualifying patient means a person who has been diagnosed to have a debilitating
medical condition, who has a physician certification and a valid qualifying patient
identification card pursuant to state law.
C. Letter of Approval. Up to two medical marijuana dispensaries may be permitted within the
City limits, provided they are designed, located, and proposed to be operated so that the
public health, safety, and welfare are protected and the requirements of this section are met.
Prior to the commencement of a medical marijuana dispensary use and receiving any
required building permits, including permits for permanent or temporary signage, a
proposed operator shall submit an
application to the community development department and other documentation
acceptable to the community development services director indicating compliance with the
requirements of this section.
1. A Letter of Approval issued by the Department authorizes an applicant to operate
a dispensary at a particular location, but does not constitute an approval of any
required building permit or development order. The applicant must maintain
compliance with this section prior to, during, and after the issuance of permits.
2. Each application for a medical marijuana dispensary shall be considered on a case-
by-case basis for compliance with the requirements of this section.
3. As a condition of approval, the City may attach any other conditions reasonably
related to the requirements of this chapter and to mitigate the impacts intended to
be addressed herein.
4. The following materials will be required as part of the application. The failure to
include any of these items at submittal will result in the application being deemed
incomplete. An incomplete application will not be accepted for consideration until
such time as the deficiencies are addressed.
i. An application fee as established by the City Commission by resolution.
ii. An application form, available from the Community Development
Department.
iii. An accurate location map demonstrating that the applicant meets the
requirements of subsection (G), reflecting the proposed location of the
dispensary as well as the location of and distance from any other use
specified in the locational criteria in subsection (G).
iv. A copy of an active license to operate a medical marijuana dispensary from
State of Florida, Department of Health, Office of Compassionate Use (or
v. A signed and notarized operational plan from the applicant expressing
understanding and intent to comply with the City and Development Code
generally, this section, and the specific standards of (G) and (H) above
throughout all phases of the development process, including site planning,
building permitting, and operations, as well as an understanding of the
penalties for the violation of any section of this code. The operational plan
shall include a detailed response to each of the requirements in subsection
(H).
vi. Information to satisfy the landlord notification requirements of (I) and (J)
below.
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D. Application Process.
1. The City shall accept application for Medical Marijuana Dispensary locations
beginning on May 15, 2017 at 7:30 a.m. at the Community Development
Department.
2. Applications will be considered in the order that they are received and for the
location noted on the application only. If the applicant desires to change locations,
they will need to submit a new application and it will be considered in the order it
is received.
3. Incomplete applications will be rejected.
4. If an application is received for a location that cannot be approved, the application
will be denied and the Department will consider the next application in line.
5. An application may not held for or transferred to a new owner.
6. An approved application will allow the applicant to apply for any additional
permits: site plans, building permits, etc. at the location specified. If the applicant
is unable to secure approval of those permits within one year of approval of the
issuance of the approval letter, the approval will be voided and a new application
will need to be submitted and will only be considered if there are not already two
dispensaries with letters of approval.
E. It shall be unlawful for any person or entity to establish or operate a medical marijuana
dispensary in the City without first having obtained from the State of Florida approval to
do so pursuant applicable law and regulations and a letter of application compliance from
the City required under this section. It shall be unlawful for any person or entity with a
medical marijuana dispensary in violation of the requirements of this section or in violation
of a condition of a Letter of Approval. By accepting a Letter of Approval issued pursuant
to this section, the owners and operators of a medical marijuana dispensary waive any claim
concerning, and release the City, its officers, elected officials, employees, attorneys and
agents from, any liability for injuries or damages of any kind that result from any arrest or
prosecution of business owners, operators, employees, clients, or customers of the operator
for a violation of state or federal laws, rules, or regulations. The issuance of a Letter of
Approval pursuant to this section shall not be deemed to create an exception, defense, or
immunity for any person in regard to any potential criminal liability the person may have
under state or federal law for the cultivation, possession, sale, distribution, or use of
marijuana.
F. The City shall not approve a proposed medical marijuana dispensary, if it determines any
one of the following:
1. The proposed medical marijuana dispensary will create noise, traffic, odor, public
safety hazards, or other nuisances to a degree that it will be disruptive to abutting
or nearby properties and will lead to degradation of property values and instability
to nearby neighborhoods or business districts; or
2. The proposed medical marijuana dispensary does not comply with the applicable
criteria in this Longwood Development Code and the supplemental standards in
this section; or
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3. The applicant is unable to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the City that the
proposed medical marijuana dispensary will be operated in a manner that the
required conditions for its operation and conducting of business as set forth in
subsections (G) and (H) will be met and consistency maintained, including a map
provided by the applicant indicating that the business will meet the site location and
distance requirements in (G) below.
4. The applicant cannot provide evidence of an active licenses or approval from the
State of Florida, Department of Health, Office of Compassionate Use (or any
medical marijuana
dispensary pursuant to the applicable law.
5. There already exists within the City two medical marijuana dispensaries with a
Letter of Approval.
G. Locational criteria. A medical marijuana dispensary shall:
1. Be located within 200 feet of SR 434, U.S. Hwy. 17-92, and/or Ronald Reagan
Blvd. This distance shall be measured from the right-of-way line of the named
roads to the nearest property line of the property proposed for the dispensary; and
2. Not be located within the Heritage Village
3. Not be located within 300 feet of
i. any school
ii. child day care facility
iii. property with a future land use of Low Density Residential (LDR)
Distance shall be measured by drawing a straight line between the perimeter
property line of the site occupied by the medical marijuana dispensary use to the
closest property line of the school, child day care, LDR property. These distance
separation requirements apply without regard as to whether the uses and facilities
at issue are located within or outside the city limits; and
H. Operational criteria. In conducting its business, a medical marijuana dispensary shall:
1. Not allow and affirmatively take measures to prevent the consumption of
marijuana, products derived from marijuana or alcoholic beverages on the property
on which the medical marijuana dispensary is located, including parking areas and
sidewalks; and
2. Not allow and affirmatively take measures to prevent individuals qualified to enter
the dispensary to stand, sit (including in a parked vehicle), or gather outside of the
building, including in any parking areas, sidewalks, or rights-of-way proximate to
the dispensary for any period of time longer than that reasonably required to arrive,
transact the necessary business in accordance with the law and depart; and
3. Ensure that no queuing of vehicles of those utilizing said dispensary occurs in the
rights-of-way abutting or proximate to the dispensary; and
4. Be compliant at all times with state and local laws and regulations; and
5. Only operate or accept deliveries between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through
Friday, and between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on Saturday; and
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6. Not allow and affirmatively take measures to prevent the odor of marijuana to be
detected by a person with a normal sense of smell outside the exterior of the
dispensary building; and
7. Not allow and affirmatively take measures to prevent a person under the age of 18
in the medical marijuana dispensary at any time without being accompanied by a
legal guardian or parent unless otherwise expressly permitted by general law; and
8. Allow only qualifying patients, personal caregivers, employees of the business, or
other qualified individuals including authorized city and state officials within the
medical marijuana dispensary; and
9. Contain all activity at the medical marijuana dispensary within the dispensary
building except for on-site parking and waste receptacles, allowing no outdoor
storage; and
10. Permit entry and inspection by authorized city, county and state officials of the
medical marijuana dispensary during business hours, including without limitation,
police officers, fire marshal, health inspectors, code enforcement, and building
official; and
11. Not conduct sales of any products other than marijuana for medical use, related
supplies and educational materials; and
12. Provide an armed security guard from a licensed security company on the premises
at all times the dispensary is open for business.
13. Continue to meet the application requirements of this section and any conditions
set forth in the letter of application compliance.
14. Post conspicuous signs on at least four sides of the building that no loitering is
allowed on the property; and
15. Conspicuously post a sign at the entrance of the medical marijuana dispensary
notifying persons of the restrictions regarding those authorized to enter the medical
marijuana dispensary described in (7) and (8) in Section H above; and
16. Not have a drive-through, drive-up, or drive-in facility; and
17. Shall meet current requirements for site lighting regardless of any previous
nonconformities; and
18. Shall have a plan satisfactory to the City for the disposal of any products that could
create a security risk; and
19. Contain no more than 5,000 square feet of floor area; and
20. Meet all on-site parking requirements for a medical clinic; and
21. Shall not be operated from a moveable, mobile, or transitory location; and
22. Be properly ventilated to sufficiently filter any odor of marijuana emanating from
the medical marijuana dispensary; and
23. Install and maintain a security alarm system and/or panic buttons approved by the
city police department in the interior of the medical marijuana dispensary building;
and
st
24. On or before October 1 of each year, provide the City with evidence of an active
license or approval from the State of Florida, Department of Health, Office of
a medical marijuana dispensary pursuant to the applicable law.
25. Not allow and affirmatively prevent the onsite sale or consumption of alcohol.
26. Not allow and affirmatively prevent the onsite cultivation of marijuana.
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I. Any landlord, leasing agent or owner of property upon which a medical marijuana
dispensary operates, who knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that a
medical marijuana dispensary is operating in violation of Longwood City Code, Longwood
Development Code, or applicable Florida law, must prevent, stop, or take reasonable steps
to prevent the continued illegal activity on the leased premises.
J. Landlords who lease space to a medical marijuana dispensary must expressly incorporate
language into the lease or rental agreement stating that failure to comply with the
Longwood City Code and Longwood Development Code is a material non-curable breach
of the lease and shall constitute grounds for termination of the lease and immediate eviction
by the landlord. The applicant shall provide a notarized affidavit from the landlord, leasing
agent, or owner of property indicating compliance with this section.
K. Violations. Beyond the standard code enforcement procedures for the City, medical
marijuana dispensaries that are found in violation of this section by the city two times
within any 12-month period shall have their Letter of Approval revoked. The decision to
revoke a Letter of Approval is appealable to the City Commission by the operator provided
that written notice of appeal stating in detail the basis for appeal is submitted to the City
Clerk within fifteen (15) days of the City sending written notice that the revocation has
occurred.
L. Consistency with State Law. Should any provision of this section be found to be in conflict
with state law, the provision in conflict shall be superseded without invalidating the
remainder of the section.
M. Annual Compliance Review. Each approved dispensary shall have an annual review of its
letter of approval to ensure that compliance has been maintained with the requirements of
this section. This annual review shall not preclude staff from completing necessary reviews
or inspections at any other point.
N. Administration Fee. The owner and operator of a medical marijuana dispensary shall pay
st
to the City an annual administration fee on or before January 1 of each year after one full
year of operation. This annual fee shall be established by the City Commission by
resolution.
ARTICLE XII HERITAGE VILLAGE URBAN CODE
Figure 12.1.1 - Table of Allowable Uses
Note: Pain management clinics, pawn shops, medical marijuana dispensaries, and tattoo parlors are
prohibited within all districts in the Heritage Village. Massage therapy establishments are allowed only
pursuant to the standards of LDC 5.4.13.
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