Scottsdale City Council to consider application Aug. 22
By Terrance Thornton | Digital Free Press
In the Scottsdale Airpark is a cannabis cultivation site a part of the industrial complex in the northern region of the municipality — and business is booming, proprietors say.
Scottsdale City Council Monday, Aug. 22, is expected to consider for final approval — the Planning Commission has already recommended approval 6 to 1 — regarding on-site expansion of cannabis cultivation activities at 7655 E. Evans Road.
Officials at City Hall, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd., report the applicant is seeking to expand cannabis cultivation activities into an existing and adjacent building where operations are already occurring.
“The site is zoned ‘Industrial Park District’ (1-1), which allows for a wide variety of light industrial and office uses. A marijuana use is allowed subject to a ‘Conditional Use Permit,’” said Greg Bloemberg, Scottsdale planning project liaison in his report to City Council.
“The subject property is part of the Thunderbird Industrial Airpark No. 4 commercial subdivision. All the surrounding properties are also zoned 1-1 and are occupied by office, warehouse and light industrial uses.”
The Scottsdale Planning Commission, by a vote of 6 to 1, is recommending to City Council approval of the pending application for operation expansions, which equates to expansion on-site — 4,050 square feet to be exact — and into the existing building at 7645 E. Evans Road and 7640 E. Gelding Drive, bringing the total floor area of the facility to 46,550 square feet, the application shows.
Scottsdale Planning Commissioner Barney Gonzales was the dissenting vote, records show.
“Due to high demand from dispensaries, the applicant seeks to expand operations into the building located directly west of the existing site,” Mr. Bloemberg said. “Additionally, the applicant seeks to add on to the existing facility to create a two-story hallway and office connection between the existing buildings on the site. The applicant would occupy the entire building on both parcels, with site changes on the new parcel limited to installation of a new refuse enclosure.”
Cannabis cultivation sites are allowed in Scottsdale industrial zoning under the tenets of a conditional-use permit, which is a municipal document that outlines specific uses of the property, city officials say.
“All operations associated with this use will be conducted within the existing buildings. An odor remediation system will be utilized to mitigate the potential for odors emanating from the facility,” Mr. Bloemberg said. “No additional outdoor lighting is proposed as part of this application and the proposed use is compatible with surrounding uses. No damage or nuisance arising from noise, smoke, odor, dust, vibration or illumination is anticipated.”
Mr. Bloemberg explains the cannabis cultivation site is closed to the public and behaves like any other light industrial operation.
“The facility will not be open to the general public and vehicular and foot traffic will be limited to employees, security, and/or dispensary operators.” he said.
“The characteristics of the proposed use are similar to a light industrial or warehouse operation, which is consistent with the surrounding uses in the area. The proposed use is not anticipated to generate significant impacts on existing circulation or traffic volume Planning Commission heard this case on July 13, 2022. The case was moved to the Regular Agenda and, after a presentation by both staff and the applicant, the commission discussed the case.”
