Matters ▸ Attachment
SZO Marijuana Zoning final clean — File 207217
Revised Submittal – December 6, 2018
page 1
CITY OF SOMERVILLE
ORDINANCE NO. 2018-___
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN: ______________
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SOMERVILLE ZONING ORDINANCE (SZO) TO
AMEND ARTICLES 2, ARTICLE 6, AND ARTICLE 7 REGARDING ADULT USE
MARIJUANA ESTABLISHMENTS
WHEREAS, By vote at the State election on November 8, 2016, the voters of the
Commonwealth approved legislation regulating commerce in marijuana, marijuana accessories,
and marijuana products and for the taxation of proceeds from sales of such products. It also
authorized cities and towns to adopt reasonable restrictions on the time, place, and manner of
operating marijuana businesses; and,
WHEREAS, Currently, the City of Somerville Zoning Ordinance does not specify if an adult use
marijuana facility is permitted in the City; and,
WHEREAS, The Legislature of the Commonwealth has determined that cities and towns in
Massachusetts should not be permitted to outright prohibit adult-use marijuana facilities without
a city-wide referendum vote;
THEREFORE, be it adopted by the Board of Aldermen, in session assembled, that the below
listed sections of the Somerville Zoning Ordinance (SZO) are hereby amended and created as
identified.
Article 2, Definitions, Section 2.2.96.2 of the SZO is hereby added.
The following definitions are as defined by 935 CMR 500: Adult Use of Marijuana, as amended.
Marijuana Establishment means a Marijuana Cultivator, Craft Marijuana Cooperative, Marijuana
Product Manufacturer, Marijuana Retailer, Independent Testing Laboratory, Marijuana Research
Facility, Marijuana Transporter, or any other type of licensed marijuana-related business, except
a medical marijuana treatment center.
Independent Testing Laboratory means a laboratory that is licensed by the Commission and is:
(a) accredited to the International Organization for Standardization 17025 (ISO/IEC 17025:
2017) by a third-party accrediting body that is a signatory to the International Laboratory
Accreditation Accrediting Cooperation mutual recognition arrangement or that is otherwise
approved by the Commission;
(b) independent financially from any Medical Marijuana Treatment Center (RMD), Marijuana
Establishment or licensee for which it conducts a test; and
(c) qualified to test cannabis or marijuana in compliance with 935 CMR 500.160 and M.G.L. c.
94C, § 34.
Revised Submittal – December 6, 2018
page 2
Marijuana Cultivator means an entity licensed to cultivate, process and package marijuana, and
to transfer marijuana to other Marijuana Establishments, but not to consumers.
Craft Marijuana Cooperative means a Marijuana Cultivator comprised of residents of the
Commonwealth and organized as a limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or
cooperative corporation under the laws of the Commonwealth. A cooperative is licensed to
cultivate, obtain, manufacture, process, package and brand cannabis or marijuana products to
transport marijuana to Marijuana Establishments, but not to consumers.
Marijuana Product Manufacturer means an entity licensed to obtain, manufacture, process and
package cannabis or marijuana products and to transfer these products to other Marijuana
Establishments, but not to consumers.
Marijuana Research Facility means an entity licensed to engage in research projects by the
Commission.
A Marijuana Research Facility may cultivate, purchase or otherwise acquire marijuana for the
purpose of conducting research regarding marijuana products.
(b) A research facility may be an academic institution, nonprofit corporation or domestic
corporation or entity authorized to do business in the Commonwealth.
(c) Any research involving humans must be authorized by an Institutional Review Board.
(d) A research facility may not sell marijuana cultivated under its research license.
(e) All research regarding marijuana must be conducted by individuals 21 years of age or older.
Marijuana Retailer means an entity licensed to purchase and transport cannabis or marijuana
product from Marijuana Establishments and to sell or otherwise transfer this product to
Marijuana Establishments and to consumers. Retailers are prohibited from delivering cannabis
or marijuana products to consumers; and from offering cannabis or marijuana products for the
purposes of on-site social consumption on the premises of a Marijuana Establishment.
Marijuana Transporter means an entity, not otherwise licensed by the Commission, that is
licensed to purchase, obtain, and possess cannabis or marijuana product solely for the purpose
of transporting, temporary storage, sale and distribution to Marijuana Establishments, but not to
consumers. Marijuana Transporters may be an Existing Licensee Transporter or Third Party
Transporter.
Medical Marijuana Facility (also known as Registered Marijuana Dispensary), as defined in the
SZO 2.2.96.1, means a facility in which a non-profit entity acquires, cultivates, possesses,
processes (including development of related products such as edible MIPs, tinctures, aerosols,
oils, or ointments), transfers, transports, sells, distributes, dispenses, or administers marijuana,
products containing marijuana, related supplies, or educational materials to registered qualifying
patients or their personal caregivers. The entity may not sell any products at the facility other
than marijuana, marijuana-infused products (MIPs), marijuana seeds, and other products such
as vaporizers that facilitate the use of marijuana for medical purposes. The entity may, however,
conduct a patient education program in compliance with state regulations.
Revised Submittal – December 6, 2018
page 3
Microbusiness means a co-located Marijuana Establishment that can be either a Tier 1
Marijuana Cultivator or Product Manufacturer or both, in compliance with the operating
procedures for each license. A Microbusiness that is a Marijuana Product Manufacturer may
purchase no more than 2,000 pounds of marijuana per year from other Marijuana
Establishments.
Article 6 of the SZO, Establishment of Zoning Districts, Section 6.1.24 is hereby
amended.
6.1.24 Medical Marijuana Overlay Districts.
Purpose. To establish areas where Medical Marijuana Facilities and Marijuana Retailers may be
permitted subject to Section 7.15 and Section 7.16, respectively.
Article 7 of the SZO, Permitted Uses, Section 7.15: Medical Marijuana Facilities, is hereby
amended.
7.15.a.
A Medical Marijuana Facility shall be permitted by special permit in the Medical Marijuana
Overlay Districts.
Article 7 of the SZO, Permitted Uses, Section 7.16: Recreational Marijuana – Study period
is hereby deleted and replaced with a new Section 7.16 as follows:
Section 7.16 ADULT USE MARIJUANA ESTABLISHMENTS
1.
All Adult Use Marijuana Establishments shall receive a License from the Licensing
Commission pursuant to Section 2-221 of the Somerville Code of Ordinances prior to a special
permit application or a building permit application being considered complete.
2.
Independent Testing Laboratory
Shall be allowed in the same manner that a “Laboratory engaged in research, experimental and
testing activities which may include the development of mockups and prototypes but not the
manufacture of finished products” use is allowed under SZO 7.11.12.10.
3.
Marijuana Cultivator
Shall be allowed in the same manner that a “Commercial farm and/or greenhouse without
keeping of honey bees and/or hens: All operations conducted entirely within an enclosed
building” use is allowed under SZO 7.11.9.10.1
4.
Marijuana Product Manufacturer
Shall be allowed in the same manner that “General industrial uses, including manufacturing,
assembly, and processing or other industrial operation, such as, but not limited to, the following:
Revised Submittal – December 6, 2018
page 4
food products manufacture, machine or woodworking shop, printing and publishing operation, or
metal finishing” are allowed under SZO 7.11.14.B.
5.
Marijuana Research Facility
Shall be allowed in the same manner that an “Office, other than medical” use is allowed under
SZO 7.11.7.1, a “Home occupation (must comply with definition in Article 2)” is allowed under
SZO 7.11.4.e, and an “Office, within a primary residence of an architect, engineer, attorney,
physician, dentist or other recognized profession, provided that all parking requirements of
Article 9 are met” is allowed under SZO 7.11.4.f.
6.
Marijuana Retailers shall only be permitted under the following circumstances:
a.
A Marijuana Retailer shall be permitted by special permit in the Marijuana Overlay
Districts.
b.
Marijuana Retailers shall comply with the siting requirements in the Marijuana Overlay
Districts set forth in the City of Somerville Zoning Map with respect to distance from schools,
daycare centers, and facilities in which children commonly congregate. A principal entry door of
a Marijuana Retailer, except for those of a Medical Marijuana Facility that is currently in
operation within the City as of the adoption of this Ordinance and is seeking to covert to sell
adult-use marijuana, may not be located within 300 feet of a principal entry door of a public or
private school providing education in kindergarten or any of grades 1 through 12. These siting
requirements have been developed to incorporate adequate separation, in a manner that is
appropriate for Somerville's urban context, from public or private schools providing education in
kindergarten or any of grades one through 12. For this reason, the overlay districts shall serve
as a local requirement to supersede the provisions of 935 CMR 500.110(3).
c.
Marijuana Retailers must be properly registered with the Massachusetts Cannabis
Control Commission (CCC) pursuant to M.G.L. c. 94C, §34 and 935 CMR 500, licensed by the
City of Somerville Licensing Commission, and must comply with all applicable state and local
public health regulations and all other applicable state and local laws, rules, and regulations.
d.
The special permit granting authority shall be the same board that issues special permits
for the underlying zoning district.
e.
A special permit shall only be approved if the special permit granting authority
determines that the use meets the findings of Section 5.1.4 of the Somerville Zoning Ordinance.
Additionally, for marijuana retailers with a principal entry door proposed within 500 feet of a
principal entry door of a public or private school providing education in kindergarten or any of
grades 1 through 12, the special permit granting authority must make a finding that a proposed
marijuana retailer is not detrimental to the educational and spiritual activities of that school.
f.
A Marijuana Retailer shall be limited to 10,000 square feet in net floor area.
g.
A Marijuana Retailer shall be subject to the minimum parking requirements under Article
9 of the ordinance. The number of required parking spaces shall be set based upon the
requirement for a Retail Sales/Rental or Retail and Service uses of this ordinance.
h.
The applicant shall be required to submit a traffic and parking study to determine any
traffic mitigation or additional parking needs.
Revised Submittal – December 6, 2018
page 5
i.
Signage for the establishment must:
a.
meet the regulations of the underlying zoning district
b.
incorporate no internal illumination
c.
be subject to review and approval of the SPGA as a part of the special permit
application.
d.
shall also conform to the requirements of 935 CMR 500 and M.G.L. c. 94C, §34.
APPROVED:
President
Board of Aldermen
BEACON ST
SUMMER ST
CEDAR ST
LOWELL ST
PEARL ST
WALNUT ST
BROADWAY
GLEN ST
MYSTIC AVE
ALBION ST
NORTH ST
SOMERVILLE AVE
INTERSTA
TE
HI
GHWAY 93
MEDFORD ST
ELM ST
HOLLAND ST
KIDDER AVE
HUDSON ST
MORRISON AVE
HEATH ST
JOY ST
F
OLEY ST
BELMONT ST
BAILEY RD
PORTER ST
BOW ST
CROSS ST
McGR
A
T
H HI
G
HWAY
PARK ST
B
O
S
T
O
N
S
T
PROSPECT ST
PO
WD
ER
H
OUSE BOULEVA
RD
AVON ST
SYCAMORE ST
DANE ST
CHERRY ST
BOSTON AVE
GRANT ST
OAK ST
HANCOCK ST
CENTRAL ST
PACKARD AVE
ALPINE ST
DAY ST
ROGERS AVE
PEARS
O
N
RD
SCHOOL ST
TEN HILLS RD
CONCORD AVE
SHO
R
E D
R
I
VE
BARTLETT ST
MIDDLESEX AVE
LINWOOD ST
FLINT ST
IRVING ST
OXFORD ST
ORCHARD ST
OSSIPEE RD
VERNON ST
TRULL ST
LIBERTY AVE
HIGHLAND RD
MU
N
ROE
S
T
F
ELLS
W
AY
WE
ST
JAQUES ST
MAIN ST
TALBOT
A
V
E
JOSEPHINE AVE
DERBY ST
WA
SH
ING
T
O
N
ST
TUFTS ST
WALLACE ST
T
H
I
R
D
A
V
E
COLLEGE AVE
PURITAN RD
OLIVER ST
BERKELEY ST
PUTNAM ST
PROFESSORS ROW
GORDON ST
FREMONT ST
OTIS ST
LAKE ST
LINE ST
TEMPLE ST
GRO
VE ST
GILMAN ST
GLENWOOD RD
HALL AVE
THURSTON ST
LAUREL ST
FL
O
RENCE S
T
HIGHLAND AVE
S
O
UTH
S
T
VINAL AVE
PARTRIDGE AVE
DOVER ST
WEBSTER AVE
PEARSON AVE
NEWBURY ST
WOODS AVE
PUTNAM RD
CONWELL AVE
DIMICK ST
LOWDEN AVE
JAY ST
ADAMS ST
CHANDLER ST
PINCKNEY ST
WHEATLAND ST
DARTMOUTH ST
FAIRFAX ST
RAYMOND AVE
MORELAND ST
DANA ST
PRESCOTT ST
HINCKLEY ST
HIGH ST
WARE ST
M
A
RI
O
N ST
BROMFIELD RD
VICTORIA ST
LEXINGT
O
N AVE
BAY STATE AVE
CRAIGIE ST
ASH AVE
R
UF
O
R
D
SPRING ST
C
OL
UM
BUS
A
VE
PRICHARD AVE
WINSLOW AVE
GOV WINTHROP RD
EDGAR AVE
SIMPSON AVE
QUINCY ST
CHESTER ST
BOND ST
ELMWOOD ST
AUS
T
IN ST
CLYDE ST
MT VERNON ST
ALLEN ST
CLARENDON AVE
MADISON ST
CUTTER ST
PERRY ST
BANKS ST
TEELE AVE
PAULINA ST
MASON ST
CAMERON AVE
PE
NN
SYLVA
N
IA AVE
STERLING ST
MOORE ST
LEE ST
SYDNEY ST
MYS
T
IC
VA
LL
EY
PA
RK
W
A
Y
RUSSELL ST
TENNYSON ST
FOSKET ST
BRADLEY ST
BONAIR ST
CLARK ST
CROWN ST
GORHAM ST
CHESTNUT ST
CALVIN ST
BENTON RD
WAL
KE
R
ST
STONE AVE
KENSINGTON AVE
MONTROSE ST
ENDICOTT AVE
D
ELL ST
WEST ST
CHURCH ST
HILLSIDE ROAD
SEWALL ST
ROSE ST
AM
E
S
S
T
GARRISON AVE
CURTIS ST
N
EW W
A
S
HINGTON
S
TR
EE
T
EVERETT AVE
FARRAGUT AVE
LINDEN ST
MURDOCK S
T
CURTIS AVE
FRANEY RD
DANE AVE
IV
A
LO
O
ST
WATERHOUSE ST
HAMLET ST
ATHERTON ST
MANSFIELD ST
SARGENT AVE
FENWICK ST
SPENCER AVE
SAWYER AVE
ADRIAN ST
RUSSELL RD
SKEHAN ST
ASSEMBLY SQUARE DRIVE
NASHUA ST
W
ARWIC
K
ST
BIKE PATH
CHEST
E
R AVE
DICKSON ST
CUTTER AVE
A
LSTON ST
PARK AVE
HOWE ST
BURNSIDE AVE
WESLEY ST
APPLETON ST
COLU
M
BIA S
T
WHITFIELD RD
LINCOLN ST
SPRINGFIELD S
T
WARD ST
HARR
IS
O
N
S
T
FRANCESCA AVE
WILLOW AVE
WOODBINE ST
HILL ST
IN
NER B
E
LT RD
MYRTLE ST
HOUG
HTON ST
JACKSON RD
KIN
GST
O
N ST
DRIVEWAY
PROPERZI WAY
BURNHAM ST
LORING ST
NO. UNION ST
MERRIAM S
T
KNAPP ST
THORPE ST
IBBETSON ST
FRANKLIN ST
LOVELL ST
RUSH ST
ROSSMORE ST
CLAREMON ST
P
R
I
NCETO
N ST
MT PLEASANT ST
BELKNAP ST
ASHLAND ST
FOUNTAIN AVE
BILLINGHAM ST
F
I
R
ST
A
VE
CA
P
E
N
ST
PLEASANT AVE
KENT ST
ALEWIFE
B
R
O
OK
PA
RKWAY
PITMAN ST
DURHAM ST
JAMES ST
CORINTHIAN RD
BARTON ST
MI
L
L
ER ST
GARFIELD AVE
STICKNEY AVE
VIRGINIA ST
HARVARD ST
McARTHUR ST
RIVER RD
LOMBARDI
GARDEN CT
LINDEN AVE
OAKLAND AVE
WESTWOOD RD
D
E
ARBO
R
N
RD
KNOWLTON ST
ESSEX ST
WALDO ST
CANAL LA
CONWELL ST
WAY
MEACHAM RD
FITCHBURG ST
HATHORN ST
CARLTON ST
MAPLE AVE
WILSON AVE
WALDO AVE
NORWOOD AVE
KENNESON RD
YORKTOWN ST
COONEY ST
WHIPPLE ST
EASTMAN RD
HOLYOKE RD
WEST QUINCY
FLINT AVE
TOWER CT
BENEDICT AVE
LINE ST
CURTIS ST
HIGHLAND AVE
BROADWAY
FELLSWAY WEST
BROADW
AY
INTERST
ATE HIGHWAY 93
MYSTIC AVE
CHURCH ST
MEDFORD ST
ASSEMB
LY SQU
ARE DR
I
VE
SCHOOL ST
BROADWA
Y
SOUTH ST
HIGHLAND AVE
COLLEGE AVE
WASHINGTON ST
LINDEN AVE
PITMAN ST
THURSTON ST
SUMMER
ST
PEARL ST
ASH AVE
INNER BELT RD
BROADWAY
ELM ST
SYCAMORE ST
SUMMER ST
JAQUES ST
WILLOW AVE
SOMERVILLE AVE
CENTRAL ST
THIRD AVE
FELLSWAY WEST
CRAIGIE ST
Marijuana Overlay District
December 6, 2018
´
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
500
Feet
City of Somerville
Massachusetts