MORE: Riverside city council tables vote on land sale for medical marijuana
The parties are negotiating a site that will ensure the cultivation facility is not within 500 feet of the Mad River Trail, said Riverside law director Dalma Grandjean.
Applicants for medical marijuana businesses in Ohio must demonstrate that the business will not be located within 500 feet of a school, church, public library, public playground or public park.
As a bike path, the Mad River Trail meets the definition of a park under Riverside’s city ordinances, Grandjean said.
After a 50-minute executive session Thursday night, which was abruptly added to the meeting agenda earlier in the day, the council emerged and quickly voted unanimously to table the legislation. Councilman Ken Curp was not in attendance.
MORE: Riverside could sell land for medical marijuana business
“There are some legal issues that we have just found out about,” Mayor Bill Flaute said. “Sorry folks, we just want to make sure we’re going to do it right.”
The legislation to sell the land can be reconsidered for a first reading at the next meeting, and voted on after a second reading at the next meeting.
The state is aiming to have applications for cultivators approved and reviewed by early November. The sale would be contingent upon the Farms of Riverside obtaining a license to cultivate medical marijuana from the state.
In July, Riverside city council delayed a vote on whether to sell seven acres of land to Farms of Riverside.
At that time, Riverside City Manager Mark Carpenter said the city has long looked for a use for the vacant property, and the indoor cultivation facility — which would need to be built — could bring 50 to 70 jobs.
MORE: State identifies medical pot applicants
Staff Writer Josh Sweigart contributed reporting.
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