- April 25, 2024
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The Ormond Beach planning board will be recommending to add a pharmacy use to two zoning districts to give possible medical marijuana dispensaries more options regarding location.
The board examined three potential zoning districts identified by city staff at its meeting on March 8. Based on direction provided by the board in February, city staff reported back to the planning board that the B-8 commercial, B-9 boulevard and B-10 suburban boulevard zoning districts had potential to include a pharmacy use, which is the only use a medical marijuana dispensary is allowed to operate under.
While the planning board members debated about the B-8 zoning district, they agreed to recommend adding a pharmacy use to B-9 and B-10. As this was an initial discussion, the B-8 district could be added to the reccommendation at a later date.
At least one Ormond Beach resident is in favor of expanding the pharmacy use, especially since commercial landlords have the right to turn down a business as long as its not under a protected class.
“In case a business owner did want to turn it down, I think that would be a case for having more availability for zoning locations for dispensaries,"said Joe Hannoush, who is also a Florida House of Representatives District 25 candidate.
Currently, traditional pharmacies are allowed only in the small professional/office B-1 district. Pharmacy store chains like CVS and Walgreens do not have to abide under that zoning because they are classified as retail, a double-standard planning board member G.G. Galloway said he doesn't like.
“Walgreens is not in our community to sell milk," Galloway said. "They’re in our community to push pharmaceutical.”
Galloway, who is a realtor, recently had a group approach him with the intention of opening up a medical marijuana dispensary in Ormond Beach. Due to the lack of qualifying parcels available, his client ended up choosing a location in Holly Hill.
He also said this issue won't go away since, aside from the fact 71% of Ormond Beach residents voted in favor of medical marijuana, the city also has the demographics to support multiple dispensaries.
