May 12, 2017 2 min read

MONONGAHELA – Monongahela Council Wednesday took a step toward allowing medical marijuana growing facilities and dispensaries in the city.

The zoning ordinance amendment had a first reading at Wednesday’s meeting.

Conditions in the amended ordinance state a medical marijuana dispensary or growing facility may not be located within 1,000 feet of a school, day care center, public playground, public park or church unless approved by majority vote by the city of zoning hearing board.

Before any permits will be issued, public hearings will be conducted, with property owners within 1,000 feet being notified by written notice. Dispensaries would be allowed in C-1 and C-2 business districts and mixed-use areas by special exception. Growing facilities would be permitted in industrial areas and must be indoor, secured facilities and operate under the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act. The amended ordinance will be addressed again at the next council meeting at 7 p.m. June 14.

In other news, the veterans banner program in Monongahela is being suspended until the city can find a place to store them in the winter.

Mayor Bob Kepics said the program has to be temporarily suspended because there are more than 400 banners and the city has run out of storage space. The banners are purchased by families of local veterans and displayed on light poles along Main Street from May through Veterans Day.

“I hate to do this, but we cannot accept any more banners at this time,” he said. The banners the city now has will still be displayed.

Councilman Tom Caudill said he isn’t happy with the suspension and will look for a solution. Kepics said the banners are quite large and the way they have to be stored takes up a lot of space.

Councilman Ken Kulak reported the city received a unique opportunity from the Design Center of Pittsburgh, with the help of the RiverTowns organization. Monongahela submitted an application to the Design Center provide a design to integrate the riverfront into the business district and was selected to receive a free design from the Klavon Design Group.

“This is a great opportunity for our town. This design group designed Market Square,” said Kulak. He added the real work begins after the design is finished to secure funding to bring it to reality.

Three properties have been slated for demolition. They are 222 Vine St., 303 Second St. and 1135 Lawton St.