Trustees prohibit cultivation and sale of cannabis

by Dan Holland

Dec. 5 township trustees meeting

Richfield Township trustees passed a resolution to prohibit cannabis operators and medical marijuana cultivators, processors and retail dispensaries within Richfield Township. 

“Back in our May meeting, we had approved resolutions for a six-month moratorium on cannabis operations – both medical and recreational use,” explained Trustee Chair Don Laubacher during the meeting. “And at the time we did that, there was still a lot of uncertainty about the excise tax rate of 10%, and whether they were going to change that, and there were also registration issues that they had not sorted out. The tax issue still has not changed at all, although it may change next year. But for me, this issue has always been more about the types of businesses we want to have here.”

The prohibition was based on a recommendation by the township zoning commission, Laubacher noted. “The main reasons that we passed the moratorium are that our zoning commission recommended it,” he told The Richfield Times. “State Issue 2, permitting the recreational use of marijuana, which passed statewide in the election in November 2023, did not pass in Richfield Township, and marijuana dispensaries are not the businesses we want in the few commercially-zoned areas that we have here.”

Parks

Trustees voted to reappoint Steve McPeake to serve a three-year term on the RJRD board. The term will expire Dec. 31, 2027.

Roadway speed

Township Administrator Mindy Lott reported that an ODOT speed study of Broadview Road that trustees requested in September was completed. They determined that the speed limit should be lowered from 55 mph to 45 mph between the Richfield Village border and Boston Road.

In other business, trustees approved:

  • A proclamation to express appreciation to Jerry Schall for more than 25 years of commitment to Richfield Township. 
  • An agreement with Summit County for a Cuyahoga Valley National Park land payment of $1,397 in lieu of taxes.
  • A one-year extension to use Charles E. Harris and Associates for a 2024 single year audit at a cost of $7,920. 
  • Support for requesting a grant for the semiquincentennial celebration.
  • Payment of $6,780 to Imperial Truck Services for repairs to the 2015 Freightliner truck.

A waiver of a $300 board of zoning appeals application fee for a second issue for resident Robert Ciresi.