Agenda - Planning Commission - 02/02/2012

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October 10, 2011 I Volume 51 No. 19 Zoning Bulletin gue the legislation would "stifle economic development" and "create another layer of bureaucracy." Proponents of the bill dispute these claims, noting that local officials could approve a store's application, even if the analysis proves economic costs outweigh benefits. Source: Sign On San Diego; www.signonsandiego.com Effective January 1, 2012, is a new law that allows local govern- ments to regulate medical marijuana collectives and cooperatives. More specifically, Assembly Bill 1300 "establishes that local governments can enact and enforce local ordinances regulating the location, establish- ment, and operations of medical marijuana collectives or cooperatives." Source: The Van Nuys News Press; http://wwwvannuysnewspressacom ILLINOIS Governor Pat Quinn recently signed into law legislation "which al- lows municipalities with less than 500,000 people to adopt their own public hearing rules for zoning cases." The new law is meant to make the public hearing process more efficient. Opponents of the new law say it could allow municipalities "to institute undemocratic and un- fair rules." Source: Chicago Daily Herald; www.dailyherald.com MICHIGAN Among the several bills related to medical marijuana that are pending in the state legislature is a bill that would subject dispensa- ries to zoning guidelines Source: Port Huron Times Herald; wwwthetimesherald.com PENNSYLVANIA On July 1, 2011, Allentown created a Neighborhood Improvement Zone. Reportedly, "[title 130-acre Neighborhood Improvement Zone was primarily created to help pay for [a] hockey arena." Businesses in this new zone will not have to pay "additional state or local taxes, but the taxes they do pay will be deposited in a special fund overseen by the state treasurer [who will then] ... transfer those funds to the Allen- town Commercial and Industrial Development Authority." Source: The Morning Call; wwwmcall.com 12 © 2011 Thomson Reuters