Centralia City Council Rejects Proposal to Ease Marijuana Restrictions For Fourth Time

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For the fourth time Tuesday night, the Centralia City Council voted down a request to allow a marijuana retail store to operate in the 1000 block of South Gold Street, with councilors saying the neighborhood just isn’t a good fit for a pot shop. 

The business’s owner and supporters disagree.

“Cities that create exclusivity, whether intentional or not, it’s a bad idea,” said Ron Greenwood, a former Centralia city councilor. “…The area we’re asking for has bikini baristas and a porn store. All those are way more, I think, just as or a little bit more problematic than a cannabis store.”

Emil Pierson, community development director for Centralia, introduced a proposed change to city zoning laws but said he wasn’t going to go into much detail prior to public comment. It was the fourth time in the past few years that such a request had been made by Richard Watkins, owner of a state-issued retail marijuana license to operate at 1039 S. Gold St. 

Watkins’ property does not sit inside an M-2 heavy industrial zone, currently the only area in which the city allows marijuana businesses of any kind. A building under construction at 1905 Johnson Road is expected to house one of the three retail shops allowed under city code.

As it had before, the city’s planning commission recommended allowing marijuana retail outlets at locations zoned for C-1 general commercial use, the designation held to Watkins’ address. As it did the last time an identical proposal came up in May, the council voted 5-2 to deny the change. Councilors Rebecca Staebler and Cameron McGee voted in the minority for the second time in about seven months.

“There is no reason in the world why we need one more place (for retail marijuana),” said councilor Joyce Barnes. “There is no reason in the world that people will see Johnson Road as being too far out there. … I am not for this type of thing, I never will be for it. I was voted in and it’s my job to say no.”

Watkins and Greenwood gave the most extensive public testimony in favor of the ordinance. Others who spoke in favor of the ordinance included Jerry Antonelli, who owns the building at 1039 S. Gold St., and Jenna Rodriguez, co-owner of retail marijuana store Gypsy Greens in Chehalis.

The first member of the public to speak in opposition of the ordinance was Ed Petersen, communications and public relations coordinator for the Centralia School District.

Petersen spoke on behalf of the district and Superintendent Mark Davalos, who was not in attendance. He questioned the accuracy of the proposed zoning map as it related to Futurus High School and a daycare center at the Harrison Square Presbyterian Church.



“We would welcome the opportunity to be part of any ongoing discussion towards a solution that represents everybody,” Petersen said. “…We would encourage there be a delay in consideration of these changes so we can consider these issues a little bit more.”

Greenwood has worked as a paid consultant for Centralia Cannabis Connection, the business name on Watkins’ license from the state. He stated his intention Tuesday to run for one of the three council positions set to be on the ballot this year. 

Those positions are held by Barnes, Peter Abbarno and Mayor Lee Coumbs. Barnes has already said she will not seek reelection. McGee replaced Greenwood on the council following the 2017 election cycle.

Watkins said following the denial that he plans to use his political action committee, Open Centralia, to support candidates who want to see the city relax its restrictions on marijuana businesses. The PAC is registered with the state public disclosure commission and lists Valerie Watkins as treasurer.

Rodriguez voiced her disagreement with the argument made by multiple people Tuesday that persons over 21 years of age could buy marijuana legally and then pass it on to underage consumers. She cited the miniature liquor bottles available near checkout stands at Fuller’s Shop’n Kart, claiming kids could easily slip one into their pockets.

Both she and Watkins took issue with multiple councilors who stated the need to find out how their constituents felt about the issue before moving forward.

“If the councilors need to find out from people what they think about it, like Abbarno said, we’ve asked for the change three times before tonight,” Richard Watkins said. “Why don’t they know by this time? They’re putting it off because they don’t want it.”

Staebler, who voted against denying the ordinance change in May as well as on Tuesday, said issues outside the scope of a zoning change were not grounds for denying such a request.

“My own opinion is there’s more opposition to legalized marijuana as a whole than on the zoning issue,” Staebler said. “That’s not why we’re here. … I’ve heard from a lot of constituents, business people, saying it’s a healthy business environment and they want to see it prosper in our community. To not offer it would be to be behind the curve.”

While disappointed with the outcome, Watkins did not rule out bringing the issue in front of the council again before the November election.