Church relocation to help Ftn. Hills marijuana applications

by Edward Gately - Feb. 29, 2012 10:10 AM The Republic | azcentral.com

The relocation of a church in Fountain Hills could lead to the approval of two more applications to locate a medical-marijuana dispensary in the town.

One medical-marijuana dispensary will be allowed in the town, in a commercial zoning district that includes the area along Colony Drive off Saguaro Boulevard. The town's medical-marijuana ordinance specifies that no licensed dispensary can be within 500 feet of a place of worship.

North Chapel Community Bible Church, which operates in an office building at 16929 E. Enterprise Drive, has been an obstacle for some previous zoning-verification applications.

Last year, Bob Rodgers, the town's senior planner, approved an application by restaurateur Josh Levine for a dispensary on a vacant lot at 16935 E. Colony Drive, at Panorama Drive, and one by Yvonne Wolf, co-owner of Wolf Brothers Construction Co., for a dispensary on a lot at 12008 N. Colony Drive.

Others applications have been rejected, mostly because Rodgers determined they were too close to the church.

Rodgers verified this week that the church will be relocating outside of the zoning district where a dispensary will be allowed.

"The church has pulled permits to do some internal renovations at another location," he said.

Dan Scruggs, pastor of North Chapel, couldn't be reached for comment. According to construction permits, it will be relocating to a commercial center at 17210 Amhurst Drive.

In the meantime, two new zoning-verification applications are pending, including one by the Healing Co. LLC for 17007 E. Colony Drive, and one by Vladimir Buer and Buer Revocable Trust for 16913 E. Enterprise Drive.

Visit link:
Church relocation to help Ftn. Hills marijuana applications