Pasco aims to allow Tri-Cities’ first pot stores. What we know about where they may open

Now that the Pasco City Council has begun chiseling out details to partially lift its ban on retail cannabis, where could those shops be allowed?

Here’s what we know so far:

Where would pot shops be allowed?

Washington state law already bars licensed cannabis production and processing centers and stores from being within 1,000 feet of schools, playgrounds, public parks, libraries, child care centers or public transit centers.

Pasco plans to draft an ordinance allowing retail marijuana stores in three areas zoned for industrial use — Light, medium and heavy industrial districts.

In all, those areas total 8,100 acres in the city limits. Mostly those are east of 20th Avenue, said Rick White, Pasco’s director of community and economic development.

Some of the zones can be found along South Oregon Avenue, East Ainsworth Avenue and at Ainsworth Junction and Kings Corner.

Why industrial zones?

Much of the area surrounding east Pasco and the downtown Pasco are also zoned for light to medium industrial companies.

Those properties are commonly used by industries such as trucking, food processing, lumber yards, gravel pits, bottling and ice manufacturing, dumps and welding shops.

The Tri-Cities Airport and Port of Pasco also are in industrial zones.

In short, it’s the economic stuff that’s “pretty obnoxious,” which is why it has its own zone designation, explained White.

“They have a lot of truck traffic, a lot of noise. Sometimes odors,” he said.

That’s also why industrial zones are intentionally separated from residential zones.

How many stores could there be?

In addition to location restrictions, the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board caps the number of licenses for cannabis retailers allowed to open in cities and counties.

Because of its size, Pasco would be limited to just four total stores.

However, some Pasco council members have said they want to limit the the number of pot shops to a maximum of two.

What other permits would be needed?

Pasco also is expected to make retailers get a special use permit before they can qualify for a business license.

And that means going in front of the city’s hearing examiner, who decides if the permit is granted.

They’re required of businesses or for property owners in a part of the city that might by impacted by the activity.

Those permits are often required for businesses such as night clubs, churches, schools and event centers. White said they receive about 15 to 25 applications annually.

Simply put, special use permits deal with special uses in certain places.

In most circumstances, business can apply for a business license, be approved and open a storefronts fairly quickly — but not under special use permits, which require notifying nearby property owners.

In the case of a night club, White says, the hearing examiner might consider the hours of operation, potential noise, parking requirements and security issues.

Applicants and property owners also can appeal a hearing examiner’s decision to Franklin County Superior Court.

What’s next?

After the Pasco council’s recent 4-3 vote, city staff will draft an ordinance on the possible zoning and rules for cannabis shops.

The ordinance will come back to the city council in the coming weeks or months to be voted on.

If passed, the ordinance would go into effect seven to nine days later.

Cannabis stores in Tri-Cities

Aside from Prosser, all cities in Benton and Franklin counties ban cannabis retailers.

And there are only two dispensaries in the Tri-Cities area: Nirvana Cannabis Company and Green2Go.

Both are within unincorporated Benton County. Nirvana is just outside the West Richland city limits and Green2Go is in Finley, just outside of Kennewick.

Prosser has Altitude on Merlot Drove. It’s other dispensary, The Bake Shop, located along Griffin Road, is in unincorporated Benton County.