It likely won’t come as a surprise to anyone in the area who has been following the establishment of the marijuana industry in Clark County, but last week’s announcement in The Reflector that the Battle Ground Market Center won’t be home to a retail marijuana store doesn’t mean one won’t open in Battle Ground.
Battle Ground City Manager John Williams confirmed that one of the two applicants for a marijuana retail store in Battle Ground called and spoke with city staff members about other possible sites around the city for the proposed store.
“We were contacted by one of the applicants and one of our staff members had a discussion with them about other potential locations,’’ Williams said. “West Main (Street) is probably about the only option. They could go farther out Main as we continue to expand over time, but there are no buildings out there right now so they would have to build from the ground up.’’
There are two main factors in a site qualifying as a potential home for a marijuana retail store. First, I-502 requires that all marijuana facilities be located at least 1,000 feet from the nearest existing school, park, playground, daycare center, transit center, recreation center or library. And second, the property has to be zoned for retail use.
In Battle Ground, as Williams pointed out, that dramatically narrows the number of potential sites available in the city. The area along Main Street on the west end of town is limited in terms of existing sites. One property that would appear to meet the qualifications is a strip of retail space located at 1908 NW 1st Way. The listed owner of the property is Peoples Community Credit Union, which has a branch located next to the site.
I haven’t been able to contact the owners or operators of that retail building at this point to ask them if they have been contacted by either of the two retail marijuana applicants in Battle Ground, or if they would be willing to lease to them.
Williams indicated the existing property in the Battle Ground Village, known as Commerce South, would also meet the setback requirements of I-502. However, it is not zoned for retail use so a zoning change would need to be completed in order for a marijuana retail facility to be located there.
“With the amount of industrial property there, it would be highly unlikely,’’ said Williams, referring to the chances of a zoning change at the Commerce South site in Battle Ground Village.
Williams pointed out several times that city officials have very little control over the marijuana process.
“It’s all under the control of the state,’’ Williams said.
On May 2, the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) will announce the winners of its lottery system that will determine which marijuana retail applicants will be awarded the opportunity to conduct business. Each of the two Battle Ground applicants listed the Battle Ground Market Center as its location. However, if either is awarded the right to open a marijuana retail outlet, the applicant will be given an opportunity to amend their application.
“If the landlord submitted a written document that said he/she would work with the applicants if they were selected then retracted during the process, we would allow the selected applicant to find a new location within the same jurisdiction,’’ said Brian Smith, communications director with the WSLCB.
So, last week’s news that the two applicants would not be able to lease a site at their desired location doesn’t mean that they will be denied the opportunity to open a marijuana retail store in Battle Ground. It does mean, however, their limited options are now even more limited.
Stay tuned.
Ken Vance
Editor
