Facilities operators should note that Town permits or approvals provide no protection or indemnification against enforcement of federal or state applicable laws that may prohibit operation of a marijuana cultivation facility. By accepting land use permits, business licenses and/or other approvals, the permittee waives and releases the Town, its officers, elected officials, employees, and/or agents from any liability, injuries, damages, or liabilities of any kind that may result from any arrest or prosecution of business owners, operators, employees, clients, or customers for a violation of federal, state, or local laws or regulations.
(1)
A marijuana cultivation facility, as defined in this chapter, shall:
(a)
Only be permitted with approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals for a special exception as outlined in Article VII, § 290-7.4;
(b)
Be set back a minimum of 500 feet from a lot containing a child-care facility, a day-care center (or nursery school), a public preschool program, a public school, or the following public facilities: Camden Public Library, Harbor Park and the Camden Snow Bowl. The applicant must provide information sufficient to prove to the satisfaction of the Code Enforcement Officer, and to the Zoning Board of Appeals, that all setbacks have been met.
[1]
For the purposes of this section "public school" is as defined in this chapter, and as that term is defined in 20-A M.R.S.A. § 1, Subdivision 24, as may be amended; "private school" is defined, as that term is defined in 20-A M.R.S.A. § 1, Subdivision 22, as may be amended; a "public preschool" is defined as that term is defined in 20-A M.R.S.A. § 1, Subdivision 23-A, as may be amended; "child care facility" as that term is defined in 22 M.R.S.A. § 8301-A, Subdivision 1-A, Subsection B, as may be amended; "day-care center" is as defined in this chapter;
[2]
For the purposes of this section, the "Camden Snow Bowl" is defined as Town Tax Map 227, Lots 64, 66, and 67;
[3]
Once all of the State and Town approvals are issued, the Town will not preclude uses listed in Subsection B(1)(a) above from opening at a location within the applicable setback area.
(2)
In addition to Subsection B(1) above, outdoor marijuana cultivation facilities shall:
(a)
Be set back at least 300 feet from all property lines. The applicant must provide sufficient information to prove to the satisfaction of the Code Enforcement Officer, and to the Zoning Board of Appeals, that all setbacks have been met.
(b)
Ensure all state-mandated security measures are in place and operational 24 hours a day; but at a minimum, plants must be completely behind a six-foot fence with sightproofing sufficient to prevent the plants from being seen from any abutting properties or public street or right-of-way; the fenced-in area must be secured with a lock and key.
(c)
Comply with best management practices for agricultural operations. Documentation shall be provided with the application for special exception, showing:
[1]
A plan for the mitigation of odors sufficient to ensure that the odor of marijuana is not perceptible at any abutting property; perceptible odor may be deemed a public nuisance; and
[2]
A plan to provide for off-site disposal of solid and agricultural waste in compliance with applicable state laws, including those which specifically apply to marijuana establishments.
(3)
In addition to Subsection B(1) above, indoor marijuana cultivation facilities shall also:
(a)
Ensure that the odor of marijuana is not perceptible at any abutting property. While the Town does not mandate any particular equipment specifications with regard to filtration, all marijuana cultivation facilities are strongly encouraged to adopt best management practices with regard to implementing state-of-the-art technologies in mitigating marijuana odor, such as air scrubbers and charcoal filtration systems. Documentation shall be provided with the application for special exception, showing:
[1]
Plans to implement appropriate ventilation and filtration systems sufficient to satisfy the above-mentioned odor standard; perceptible odor may be deemed a public nuisance.
[2]
A plan for off-site disposal of solid and cultivation waste in compliance with applicable state laws which specifically apply to marijuana establishments.
(4)
Indoor and outdoor marijuana cultivation facilities. In addition to the information noted above, the following submissions are required to be provided with the application for a special exception:
(a)
Documentation acknowledging that they will not employ a person under the age of 21;
(b)
A copy of the procedure that will be employed to ensure that no person under the age of 21 will be permitted to enter, or remain in, a marijuana establishment, as defined;
(c)
A copy of an operational plan providing for the proper disposal of marijuana and related by-products in a safe, sanitary and secure manner and in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. At a minimum, the plan must address how the facility will comply with the following standards:
[1]
Dumpsters and trash containers must not be overflowing, and the surrounding area must be kept free of litter and trash;
[2]
All dumpsters and containers shall be screened from public view;
[3]
All trash receptacles on the premises used to discard adult use marijuana products shall have a metal cover or lid that is locked at all times when the receptacle is unattended.
(d)
A plan to comply with state law regarding pesticide application that requires that all application of pesticides must be performed by a person licensed by the State Board of Pesticide Control as a pesticide applicator;
(e)
Copies of applicable state applications and evidence of compliance with any and all applicable state rules and regulations; and
(f)
A plan to ensure compliance with all state-mandated security measures will be in place and operational 24 hours a day.