A recent letter to the editor discussed a cannabis shop opening in the Ballard Avenue Historic District. Readers may have thought the idea to be erroneous considering that the Seattle Municipal prohibits recreational and medical cannabis shops in overlay/historic zones. However there could be changes coming to the code that opens those areas to pot shops.

City Council introduced amendments to the code last Tuesday concerning where cannabis shops can operate. Currently cannabis shops are prohibited from operating in historic districts. However, there was some talk about opening Pioneer Square and Ballard districts to retail cannabis shops. The Council is considering an amendment to the code that would allow one store to open in each of the districts.

These were not the only amendments introduced related to where stores can operate. Recreational stores are currently allowed within 1000 feet from “sensitive” areas that include schools and public spaces. The introduced amendment would change the rule so that the 1000-foot buffer applies to only elementary schools, secondary schools and playgrounds. Should council make the amendments, stores could operate 500 feet from places like childcare centers, game arcades, libraries, public parks, public transit centers and 350 from any major marijuana operation, including retail.

The City is considering changing the code because of a clustering effect occurring where stores can open. Cannabis stores are currently allowed in every zone except for residential zones, historic zones and Neighborhood Commercial 1 zones, which typically abuts residential zones. However, because the code stipulated that recreational stores be established 1000 feet from sensitive areas and away from other recreational stores, shops have clustered in “green zones.” These zones are in SODO, Georgetown, Interbay, Ballard and in pockets along Aurora Avenue North. The new amendments would allow more stores to open in more places by freeing restrictions on where they operate.

Should these measures pass, a new store could open in Ballard’s Historic District. There is a small strip on Ballard Avenue N.W. that would satisfy the new code measures. However, based on the introduced buffer and dispersion legislation, no more than one shop could operate there.

So why were historic districts protected in the first place?

Bryan Stevens with Department of Planning and Development said that when the code was first established there was major concern from citizens about “red light” districts starting up in iconic areas in the city.

“Given the lack of precedent in other major cities of what legalization might look like, there was generally an interest in erring on the side of caution,” said Stevens.

“Historical districts presented a bit of a challenge at the time, as many community members of those districts were worried about pot tourism given our unique place as a major tourist destination in one of the few states that allowed recreational marijuana. Some community members were concerned that a few of our historic districts already suffer from a perception that there is a high amount of drug and alcohol use, and we wanted to avoid potentially compounding these issues.”

City Council will vote on the new measures on January 11.

To comment on the issue go to http://web6.seattle.gov/DPD/LUIB/Notice.aspx?BID=1094&NID=21205