Where will you be able to buy marijuana in Binghamton? City issues draft zoning map
Where will you be able to buy marijuana in the City of Binghamton?
That question received some clarity Thursday as Mayor Jared Kraham released a draft zoning map to guide the establishment of future cannabis businesses in the city. The announcement started the clock on a 30-day public comment period on the proposal, which is subject to change based on input from community stakeholders and updated state guidelines.
“The cannabis industry is coming to New York State, and we want to make sure Binghamton is ready to maximize the opportunity, attracting new jobs and investments to our area,” said Kraham. “We also want to ensure the industry grows in a responsible manner that benefits our community.
"The different types of cannabis businesses that will open must fit the character of the commercial districts they locate in and adhere strictly to State law when it comes to operations.”
The city’s Zoning Ordinance classifies different marijuana-related businesses into three categories:
Industrial: Includes cultivation, distribution, processing and storage.
Retail: Includes dispensaries and delivery services.
On-site consumption: Businesses that sell directly to consumers for consumption on the premises.
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Where cannabis businesses will be allowed in city
The draft map released Thursday zones parts of the city for marijuana-related businesses according to those three categories. Under the proposal, retail and onsite consumption businesses are largely permitted along Main Street and the center of the city.
Retail and industrial businesses have a slightly smaller footprint, while zoning for industrial businesses-only is limited to a strip in the northern part of the city generally east of the Brandywine Highway.
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Where cannabis businesses will be restricted
Buffers are in place around schools and places of worship throughout the city, excluding any marijuana-related business activity in the immediate vicinity.
Additionally, cannabis-related businesses will not be allowed in any residential zoning districts.
How to comment on the draft map
The draft map is available for viewing on the city’s website. Community members can submit comments on the proposal to Planning@cityofbinghamton.com until July 2.
“Cannabis legalization in New York State has created once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for communities like Binghamton to become industry leaders and grow the local economy in meaningful ways,” said Kaelan Castetter, co-founder of the New York Cannabis Growers & Processors Association and Managing Director at Castetter Cannabis Group. “It’s exciting to see the City of Binghamton taking proactive steps today to engage stakeholders and position the community for success as the State rolls out the framework for the cannabis industry.”
Zoning changes in the city will require adoption of a local law, subject to a public hearing and approval by the City Council. The zoning map will also be subject to an updated set of draft regulations issued by the Office of Cannabis Management, which is expected in the coming weeks. The city's draft zoning map is based on information currently released by the Office of Cannabis Management.
The office was created after adoption of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act earlier this year, which legalized adult-use recreational cannabis for those 21 and older in New York state.
The state’s Cannabis Control Board has approved 162 Adult-use Cannabis Conditional Cultivator Licenses from a pool of more than 200 applications submitted to the Office of Cannabis Management after the online application portal opened March 15. Applications continue to be reviewed on a rolling basis. The deadline to submit applications is June 30.
Several Broome County applicants, including Windsor Cider LLC and NG Growers Inc., have been approved.
Chris Potter can be reached at cpotter@gannett.com or on Twitter @ChrisPotter413. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Binghamton marijuana sales take first step with proposed zoning map
