[Effective 4-14-2022]
The use of marijuana for medicinal and adult-use purposes has been authorized by the Connecticut General Statutes and is regulated by the State Department of Consumer Protection. It is the intent of these zoning regulations to accommodate the production and dispensing of such marijuana, with appropriate limitations to acceptable locations, conditions and standards applicable within the Town of Stratford. The purpose of this section is to regulate the location and operation of marijuana dispensary facilities and production facilities, for either medicinal or adult use, in such a manner as to minimize any adverse impacts of such facilities, and to protect and preserve Stratford's public safety and health, residential neighborhoods, commercial districts, property values and quality of life. Such limitations are in addition to all applicable requirements, criteria and standards set forth for the use in the state statutes. In determining whether or not an application would comply with the stated purpose of this section, the Commission shall take into consideration the proximity of the premises to residential areas, religious institutions, schools, playgrounds, parks, public or private recreation areas, substance abuse disorder treatment facilities, community centers, libraries, child day-care facilities or any place primarily frequented by minors. When submitting a special case application to the Zoning Commission for approvals, applicants must disclose distances to residential areas, religious institutions, schools, playgrounds, parks, public or private recreation areas, child day-care facilities or any place frequented by minors. A site plan, indicating the proposed location of the marijuana facility, the location of all other land uses identified in this ordinance, within a one-half-mile radius of the proposed location and the setbacks to those land uses is required. It is the responsibility of the applicant to research the uses on the surrounding properties and accurately identify the distances and separations as required. Failure to accurately document surrounding uses may result in the revocation of any zoning compliance. The applicant shall provide information explaining what methods were used to identify the surrounding uses and distances. This review is necessary to determine the effect that an approval may have on the immediate of general neighborhood or the community.
For purposes of this section of the Regulations, the terms "dispensary facility" and "production facility" shall mean as described in the Statutes, which currently define them as follows:
a) 
"Dispensary facility" means a place of business where cannabis may be dispensed, sold or distributed in accordance with SB 1201 of the General Statutes and any regulations adopted thereunder and to which the department has issued a dispensary facility license under Chapter 420f of the General Statutes and any regulations adopted thereunder.
b) 
"Producer" means a person that is licensed as a producer pursuant to Section 21a-408i of the General Statutes and any regulations adopted thereunder.
a) 
Marijuana dispensary facilities shall be permitted only in the following zoning districts, subject to special case approval in accordance with Section 20 of these Regulations, and the requirements of this section: LBB, CA, CF as allowed under Subsection 7.5.1.4.2 CNC, MA and MB.
b) 
Marijuana production facilities shall be permitted only in the following zoning district, subject to special case approval in accordance with Section 20 of these Regulations, and the requirements of this section: MA, MB.
[Amended 8-24-2022, effective 9-15-2022]
Uses identified in this section shall be subject to the following separation requirements:
a) 
No marijuana dispensary or production facility shall be permitted on a site that is less than 1,500 feet from any other site containing a marijuana dispensary or production facility measured by taking the nearest straight line between the respective lot boundaries of each site.
b) 
No marijuana dispensary or production facility shall be permitted within the same building structure or portion thereof that is used for residential purposes.
c) 
No marijuana dispensary or production facility shall be permitted any closer than 700 feet from any municipal boundary line.
d) 
No more than one dispensary or one production/grow facility shall be allowed for every 25,000 residents of the municipality, as determined by the most recent census. When determining applicability, the population number will be rounded down to the nearest 25,000 cohort.
Exterior and interior outward facing signage shall be restricted to a single sign no larger than 24 inches by 36 inches. No graphics of any kind will be allowed, and the text will be limited to the street address of the facility and/or any such other information as may be mandated by the State of Connecticut. Sandwich boards, A-frames, twirlers, flag or other similar forms of signage are prohibited at such establishments.
Required off-street parking shall be in compliance with Section 12 of these Regulations.
a) 
All marijuana dispensary facilities and production facilities shall have an adequate security system to prevent and detect diversion, theft or loss of marijuana, utilizing commercial grade equipment meeting at least the minimum requirements of Section 21a-408-62 of the State of Connecticut General Regulations.
b) 
A marijuana dispensary shall be located in a permanent building and shall not be located in a trailer, cargo container, mobile or modular unit, mobile home, recreational vehicle or other motor vehicle. "Building" shall mean: A structure having a roof supported by columns, posts, or walls and intended for the shelter, housing, or enclosure of any person, entity, animal, process, equipment, goods, or materials of any kind or nature.
c) 
The permitted hours of operation of a marijuana dispensary shall be from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
d) 
A marijuana dispensary shall not have a drive-through service.
e) 
A marijuana dispensary shall not have outdoor seating areas.
a) 
A special case application shall be approved with the condition that the applicant obtains the appropriate dispensary or production facility permit issued by the State of Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (or other state agency as regulatory changes occur). In addition to the special case criteria, the Commission shall pay close attention to odor control, distances to uses mentioned in Subsection 15.1 and landscape buffers to adjoining uses.
b) 
The conditional approval shall become automatically finalized upon the receipt by Zoning Commission of a copy of the appropriate permit(s) issued by the Department of Consumer Protection.
c) 
If the applicant fails to provide the Zoning Commission with a copy of the required permit(s) from the Department of Consumer Protection within six months of the date of the Commission's conditional approval, such conditional approval shall automatically expire without further action by the Commission.
d) 
A six-month extension of such conditional approval shall be granted to the applicant upon written notification to the Zoning Commission that an application for a Department of Consumer Protection permit has been filed, indicating the expected decision date of the Department of Consumer Protection on said permit.