Mesa Planning and Zoning Board to vote on whether to recommend City Council amend marijuana codes

By Connor Van Ligten
Mail

The Mesa Planning and Zoning Board is set to vote on whether or not to recommend the City Council amend a chapter of the Mesa city code that would increase the permitted maximum floor area at dispensaries and remove the delivery restriction that was previously exclusively available to medical marijuana patients at their upcoming meeting.

The meeting begins with a 3 p.m. study session on May 28 at 57 E. First St. The amendments would remove a provision that limits delivery exclusively to medical marijuana dispensaries serving qualifying patients, increase the maximum size of medical marijuana dispensaries and dual licensee facilities from 2,500 to 5,000 square feet and remove specific requirements for storage area limitations and dedicated interior waiting areas.

According to a staff report, the size increase and storage limitation changes would provide greater operational flexibility for registered facilities. For the delivery service provision, the staff report said state law permits the authorization and regulation of the delivery of recreational marijuana as of November 2024. As a result, the provision that limits marijuana delivery in Mesa to only medical parents would need to be removed in order to comply with state law.

The seven-member Mesa Planning and Zoning Board conducts hearings and makes recommendations to council on requests for changes in zoning and on required site plans.

It also considers and recommends changes in the city’s long-range plans and in the municipal code concerning planning and zoning matters. Members are appointed for staggered terms of three years, according to the city’s website.