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December 25, 2015 1 Volume.9.I Issue 24 Zoning Bulletin <br />Zoning News from Around the <br />Nation <br />FLORIDA <br />Proposed state legislation (HB 191 and SB 318), designed to set up a <br />regulatory framework for fracking, could preempt local measures banning <br />fracking. The bills would give the state authority to regulate oil and gas ex- <br />ploration, development, production, processing, storage and transportation. <br />Under the proposed legislation, only local zoning ordinances adopted before <br />2015 would remain enforceable. In November, the Florida Association of <br />Counties' ("FAC") general membership voted unanimously to oppose the <br />pre-emption measures along with provisions in the bills that would exempt <br />chemicals used in the process from public disclosure if they are considered <br />trade secrets. FAC also voted to support a moratorium until "independent and <br />comprehensive" studies on fracking are completed and peer-reviewed. <br />Source: 10 News, WTSP; www.wtsp.coln <br />MICHIGAN <br />The City of Detroit is considering a proposed zoning ordinance that would <br />impose specific regulations on the city's more than 150 medical marijuana <br />dispensaries. Michigan has legalized medical marijuana, and marijuana activ- <br />ists are reportedly "confident legalization of small amounts of recreational <br />marijuana for adults' 21 and older will be on the ballot for voters next fall." <br />Meanwhile, the Detroit City Planning Commission recently held two public <br />hearings to get citizen feedback on the proposed ordinance, and has recom- <br />mended approval of the zoning ordinance to the Detroit City Council. <br />Source: Crain's Detroit Business; www.crainsdetroit.conz <br />VERMONT <br />Bill H. 169 was introduced into the Vermont State House in November. <br />The bill "proposes to allow municipalities to adopt land use bylaws for the <br />purpose of regulating commercial building facades in designated downtowns <br />and villages to ensure the facades are not left in a state of disrepair." The <br />bylaws would "be limited to requiring the maintenance and repair of the <br />facade such that the building's interior is not open to the elements for longer <br />than six consecutive months, prohibiting it from having broken windows. <br />The bylaws would also prohibit commercial buildings from having boarded <br />up windows or doors for the same period of time." <br />Source: News & Citizen; www.newsandcitizen.com <br />12 © 2015 Thomson Reuters <br />