Council amends ordinances for medical marijuana

The Biddeford City Council voted Sept. 21 to make changes to medical marijuana zoning ordinances approved at its previous meeting.

City councilors voted 5-4 in favor of adopting zoning changes suggested by the planning board for medical marijuana dispensaries and growing facilities. Councilors Patricia Boston, Jim Emerson, Clement Fleurent and Rick Laverriere opposed the measure.

City Planner Greg Tansley said the changes allow dispensaries in the medical zone, Industrial 3 zone and parts of the Business 2 zone as a conditional use. Stand-alone growing facilities are allowed in the Industrial 1 and 2 zones as a conditional use.

Tansley said the council reconsidered its previous decision after he received a legal opinion from Richard Flewelling, assistant director of the legal services department of the Maine Municipal Association. Tansley asked him if the council’s decision to prohibit stand-alone growing facilities was allowed under state law.

Flewelling wrote that “any municipal ordinance regulating any activity already regulated under the state’s new medical marijuana law is probably preempted and, as a result, unenforceable….”

Safe Harbor Maine Inc. was chosen by state officials to operate a dispensary in York County. The company plans to open a dispensary on Route 111 near Amato’s. Tansley said Safe Harbor needs to receive a conditional use permit from the planning board before it can open.

The council on Sept. 21 also passed a second and final reading of an order to close Bradbury Street Extension to vehicular traffic because of safety concerns. Councilors Boston, Ray Gagnon and Alfred Lamontagne opposed closing the street.

Police continue probe

of father, son’s deaths

The investigation into the deaths of a father and son is ongoing, according to police.

Department of Public Safety Spokesman Steve McCausland said “a lot more work remains” in the investigation into the deaths of Andrew and Dustin Giroux of Saco. The medical examiner needs to complete additional tests and state police ar investigating, which could take several months, he said.

Andrew Giroux, 49, and his 25-year-old son, Dustin, died within hours of each other Aug. 1 at a hunting camp in Sangerville. Police said deaths were “unexplained” and there were no immediate indications of anything suspicious.

The Girouxs owned and operated A&D Giroux Heating in Saco, where they were well-known for their friendly dispositions. Dustin Giroux is survived by his young son, D.J., and fiancée Ashleigh Dixon.

Get ready to romp:

Dog park to open

The Biddeford Dog Park will be ready for dogs this week.

Volunteers, many from Home Depot, gathered in Rotary Park last week to drill holes for fence posts and put up fencing around the dog park. The fenced-in park is on a grassy hill near the entrance to the park. A $10,000 donation from the Biddeford Animal Hospital covered most of the cost of fencing the area.

Joe McKenney of the Biddeford Dog Park Committee said the park will open this week as soon as gates are installed. Picnic tables, benches and a gazebo will be added later as the committee raises more money.

A grand opening celebration will be held in October. For more information, search for Biddeford Dog Park on Facebook.

– Compiled by Staff Writer

Gillian Graham