More marijuana stores to be allowed in NE Seattle - Updated

Last month, Mayor Ed Murray proposed new zoning rules to loosen restrictions on where marijuana retail stores may be located in Seattle. Under the proposal, the 1,000-foot buffer around playgrounds and schools would remain in effect while buffers around other places frequented by children, such as day care centers, libraries, community centers, transit centers, and arcades, would be reduced to 500 feet, approximately 1-2 city blocks. The new rule would establish an additional 1,650 acres for retail locations. The proposal would also create a minimum distance of 500 feet between retail outlets.

What does that mean for NE Seattle?

With the proposal, the Mayor's Office released two maps: one showing the current zoning rules and possible locations for retail marijuana shops and one showing the additional areas that would be allowed under the proposed legislation. The map below shows the NE Seattle areas (in yellow) that would be appropriately zoned for marijuana stores under the proposal. 

Red Circle = 500'/1,000' buffer for existing marijuana retailers; Green Cross = 500'/1,000' buffer for existing medical marijuana retailers; Green Area = Areas where retail marijuana is not allowed under licensing restrictions; Grey Area = Areas where retail marijuana is not allowed under zoning restrictions; Yellow Area = Estimated areas where retail marijuana would be allowed.

If the proposal is adopted by the City Council, additional areas in NE Seattle that would be zoned appropriately for marijuana retailers are:

• Along Lake City Way NE,
• Around Northgate Mall, 
• Around University Village, 
• Along NE 45th Street and the beginning of Sand Point Way NE,
• Along NE 55th Street. 

 The City Council is scheduled to vote on the proposal on Tuesday, December 15.  

UPDATE 12/16/2015: The City Council Planning, Land Use, and Sustainability Committee approved the proposal with an amendment allowing two pot shops to open next to one another. Publicola reported on the committee's debate regarding the impact of the policy on communities of color.

How many marijuana stores will be located in Seattle and King County?

The Washington State Liquor Control Board (LCB) today approved the filing of proposed supplemental rules that, if ultimately enacted, will help govern Washington State’s system of producing, processing and retailing recreational marijuana. The LCB earlier this summer filed proposed rules and chose to revise them after receiving public input.

In addition to the rules, the LCB released information about how many marijuana stores will be allowed to open in every county.  Here is a list of King County jurisdictions and the number of proposed marijuana stores in each one.

The LCB would like your input on the proposed rules to implement Initiative 502.  Please send your initial comments to the LCB by October 4, 2013 at:

Rules Coordinator

Liquor Control Board

P.O. Box 43080

Olympia, WA 98504-3080

rules@liq.wa.gov

Public hearing will be held on October 8 and 9 -- details to be posted on their website: www.liq.wa.gov