Ordinance & Administration Committee Meeting

The Ordinance & Administration Subcommittee met to consider four zoning and ordinance items, with Councilors Gilday and Rinaldi present. Key topics included an update on the Renewable Energy Development Overlay District (2024-096), proposed limits on cannabis retail licenses (2024-099), revised Energy Committee bylaws (2024-119), and amendments to Chapter 334 to allow municipal licensing of adult cannabis retailers in the Retail Marijuana Overlay District (2024-132). No public comment was offered.

The committee voted to send two items to the full City Council with positive recommendations. The committee returned 2024-099 (Cannabis Retail License Limits) to the full Council with a positive recommendation; discussion included Councilor Gilday noting she may propose reducing the cap from four to three licenses and Councilor Rinaldi expressing support for a license limit while cautioning against 'sorting winners and losers.' The committee also returned 2024-132 to the full Council with a positive recommendation and specified three suggested revisions to remove certain reference/whereas language. The revised Energy Committee bylaws (2024-119) and the REDD zoning amendment (2024-096) were discussed but left pending for further revision or for Planning Board recommendation.