Jefferson County officials are now taking public comments on a six-month marijuana business permitting moratorium established Aug. 11.

The moratorium on county permitting for marijuana growing and processing businesses limits those businesses to three areas – agricultural, forestry and industrial. As a result, such businesses are not allowed in rural residential areas.

Commissioners adopted the moratorium in response to Department of Community Development (DCD) staff concerns about the size and potentially conflicting nature of some legal I-502 marijuana businesses locating in area zoned primarily for residences.

Since October 2013, the county has applied its existing land-use and zoning rules to marijuana businesses, allowing growers to set up in any area without a land-use permit and requiring a cottage industry permit for processors in most areas.

Some 55 percent of producer-processor applicants in Jefferson County, of which there are 27, have chosen to set up on land zoned rural residential, said DCD Director Carl Smith. Some 90 percent of applicants looking to grow marijuana in the county are also looking to process it, he said.

The moratorium does not apply to applicants who are vested or are deemed “substantially complete,” which Smith said amounts to a handful of applicants.

Following the public comment period, which begins Aug. 27 and runs through Oct. 6, a public hearing is set for 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 6 in the Cotton Building at 607 Water St. in downtown Port Townsend. Until then, comments may be sent to jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us or to the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners at 1820 Jefferson St., P.O. Box 1220, Port Townsend, WA 98368.

The moratorium, ordinance 07-0811-14, is available for review on DCD's page at co.jefferson.wa.us.