At their Dec. 28 meeting, the Waldoboro Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to approve the language of moratoria on methadone clinics and medical marijuana dispensaries in Waldoboro. The board also approved a Jan. 11 special town meeting, which is required to officially enact the moratoria.
The special town meeting will be held by open-floor voting at the Miller School on Tues., Jan. 11, at 7 p.m. Approval by a majority of the town’s voters is required by state law for a moratorium to be enacted.
The moratorium will give the town time to research and put in place ordinances governing methadone clinics and marijuana dispensaries, but the facilities cannot legally be blocked permanently, town officials said.
“The public should be aware that we’re going to be seeking their input in creating this language,” said Selectman Steve Cartwright.
The Waldoboro Planning Board, which will be creating the draft language, holds public meetings every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. They will also be holding public hearings about methadone clinics and medical marijuana dispensaries.
Waldoboro’s Code Enforcement Officer Misty Gorski said she’s already been talking to other towns and reviewing their ordinances pertaining to clinics and dispensaries.
Methadone clinics are “a facility that has real need,” Gorski told the planning board at a meeting on Dec. 8 to prepare them for the process. “We can’t ban them outright, but we can create intelligent language that limits any negative impact on the town.”
Gorski told the planning board at that meeting that under current town ordinance, methadone clinics and medical marijuana dispensaries would classify as medical offices, which are allowed in six of the town’s 10 land use zones: two areas along Rt. 1; in and around the downtown village; in north Waldoboro near Washington and Old Augusta roads; and near the industrial park on Rt. 32.
There are no specific performance standards for medical offices in current town ordinance, but Gorski said language could be written to restrict location, control traffic and specify police patrols for the facilities.
“We also have to make sure that people using the facility get the best possible care,” Gorski said in a telephone interview following the planning board meeting.
The selectmen discussed the issue in detail at their Dec. 14 meeting but tabled the issue to give time to finalize the language. At that meeting, the selectmen voiced full support for the moratoria.
Officials stressed there have been no applications or proposals to open a methadone clinic in Waldoboro, but the moratorium will block any potential applications for six months while the town reviews land use ordinance and creates language applicable to such facilities.
The lack of a regional clinic in this area has bred concerns among opponents to a clinic that Waldoboro may be the next in line.
The moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries is being included so that the town can address the two at the same time, Gorski said.
At the end of the six-month moratorium, the selectmen will have an opportunity to extend the moratorium for another 180 days, if needed, said Town Manager William Post.
