Agenda - Planning Commission - 07/21/2016

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May 25, 2016 1 Volume 10 1 Issue 10 Zoning Bulletin "from Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) would clarify that state and lo- cal governments can enact and enforce privacy laws that are related to drones." Another proposed amendment "backed by Dianne Feinstein (D- Calif.) would limit the preemption language so it only pertains to the manufacture and design of drones. It would still allow federal preemp- tion of operational laws, unless the FAA hasn't issued a rule on the issue. In that case, states and localities would be able to enact their own rules." However, supporters of the pre-emption language now in the bill "maintain that cities and states are able to govern privacy, safety and other issues associated with drone use without having to regulate UAS in the national airspace, which falls squarely under FAA's jurisdiction." They "also maintain that the preemption provision helps prevent a messy patchwork of regulations, which they say could hinder innovation and growth in the drone industry." Source: The Hill; htty.//thehill.com ALASKA The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly was contemplating an ordinance that would make it easier for property owners "with moderate zoning irregularities they did not create to get forgiveness." Reportedly, the ordinance was spurred by "a major uptick in cases of people seeking forgiveness for old zoning violations in the wake of a new federal law, the Dodd -Frank Act, that tightened lending rules." Under the proposed ordinance, an irregularity for which forgiveness is being sought "must not be extreme" (e.g., a setback violation must not be greater than 75% of the required setback, and a lot area violation must not be greater than 75%); and must predate 2010; and must not have been created by the property owner seeking forgiveness. Source: Fairbanks Daily News -Miner; http://www.newsminer.com PENNSYLVANIA Pennsylvania has legalized a "comprehensive and public medical marijuana program." Under the new law, the state "would license up to 25 growers and processors, and as many as 50 dispensaries, which could each operate three locations. Dispensaries and growers could not be lo- cated within 1,000 feet of a school or day care center, although the Department of Health would be able to waive that requirement on a case - by -case basis. Growers, processors and dispensaries would have to meet local zoning laws. Patients would not be allowed to legally grow their own marijuana." Source: WPVI-TV; htty://6abc.com 12 © 2016 Thomson Reuters