Sean C. Morgan
The Sweet Home Planning Commission will consider whether to approve a conditional use permit for a third retail marijuana shop in Sweet Home during its regular meeting on Nov. 6.
Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the request during its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council chambers in the City Hall Annex, 1140 12th Ave., behind City Hall.
La Mota LLC, which operates 15 stores throughout Oregon, including 620 S. Main St., Lebanon, is requesting a permit to open a retail store at 1025-1027 Main St., the former site of Periwinkle Provisions in the Fallon Building.
At the shop, the applicant proposes to sell recreational marijuana flowers, edibles, concentrates and tinctures as well as other items, like glass pipes.
“Our company intends to give back to the community by providing the opportunity of jobs to the community,” said Rosa Cazares, CEO of La Mota in the application.
“We are also very involved in the communities we are in, whether that be hosting or catering outdoor events and block parties for kids and families. We believe that you have to put in what you want back, and we aim to help in any way we can.
“We also have a very aesthetically pleasing store and will be remodeling the existing store so that it is clean, fresh and blends in with the surrounding area. We maintain our properties throughout the entire process – also throughout the year.”
Retail marijuana shops are allowed in Sweet Home’s commercial zones as a conditional use, requiring a public hearing in front of the Planning Commission, which had authority to approve the permit.
Among the criteria, a request must comply with the requirements of the underlying zoning, city codes and state and federal law.
The size of the site, dimensions, location, topography and access must be adequate for the needs of the proposed use considering various features that include but are not limited to building size, parking, traffic, noise, vibration, exhaust and emissions, light and glare, erosion, odor, dust, visibility, safety landscaping and street features.
Negative impacts of the proposed use on neighboring properties and the public may be mitigated by application of other code standards or other reasonable conditions of approval.
All required public facilities must have adequate capacity as determined by the city to serve the proposed use.
Marijuana facilities specifically must be located in a fixed location, may not have drive-up services, must be at least 1,000 feet from the property boundary of any school and must be sited at least 100 feet from the boundary of residential property.
The proposed shop is in the correct zoning for retail marijuana, Cazares said. “There will be no adverse impacts on the neighborhood. The conditions are set out to protect the immediate neighborhood, but our company strives to make sure that everyone in the surrounding area is comfortable and we ensure that we follow all the rules and regulations throughout the entire process.”
Access to the facility is restricted to persons 21 and older, she said, and it will have security cameras and full outdoor lighting.
The store will have “no impact on the surrounding area or community as it will be run like any other business in the area,” Cazares said. Little traffic will go to and from the property, and foot traffic will not be increased. The building will be monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week with high-end security cameras and an alarm system, with instant response if an alarm is raised.
The shop will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. as the Oregon Liquor Control Commission allows, Cazares said.
The sign will be green and rec-tangular with the words “La Mota” in white. It will be illuminated at night.
The store will have two entrances, one in front on Main Street and another in back, exiting to Long Street.
The store has a 5-foot parking lane shared with other stores, Cazares said. Space in back could be renovated into parking if necessary.