---

Hemp-derived businesses and cannabis based enterprises are going to have to wait a while longer to set up shop in the city of Wyoming. The city council members voted at their July 2 council meeting to halt applications for permit consideration at least into November.

The council took action early in the year on a moratorium on cannabis business licensing, mainly due to delays in the state aligning its Office of Cannabis Management structure. 

The city’s administrator Robb Linwood explained that the city also should act on hemp-derived products, recommending a moratorium while ordinance wording is crafted. Council accepted the 120 day maximum for a moratorium, so expiration will be at the end of October.

There was no public comment at the July 2 public hearing.  Council voted 5-0 to enact this “interim” ordinance prohibiting any applications until the planning commission puts a sample ordinance before council to adopt.  Council was told the advisory and backgrounding materials for cannabis zoning and planning, had only just been compiled and distributed for consideration.   

Legislation approved in the 2023 session allows for reasonable restrictions on time, place and manner of operation of these type of businesses as long as they are not being “prohibited.”

~ Council members also listened carefully to descriptions of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) packages being sought for special housing projects.  The action was to express official intentions to allow TIF use, the actual agreements get adopted later.

A 63-unit senior citizen complex near Fairview Medical Center was analyzed by city financial consultants Baker Tilly.    Council, with the exception of Linda Nanko Yeager, supported utilizing TIF benefits to help make this $11.3 million valuation parcel a reality. 

Yeager opposed the length of the agreement, which can call for tapping into increments to cover project costs for 26 years maximum.  The increment is the gain in revenues, versus the vacant land,  once improvements or a new project is done.  To help cash flow a project the increment can be redirected out of property taxes paid,  to the qualifying developer. So if “Site A” was empty and generating $1,000 a year in property tax and was developed and subsequently generated $10,000 in property taxes, the increment that can be redirected to finance costs is $9,000.

Council member Yeager also voted no on the Reuter Walton 72-unit apartments request to be allowed to use TIF.  This development is adding $13 million valuation to Wyoming’s base and the TIF being allowed to be redirected is not to exceed $356,000 over 26 years.

The developer said the project is slated for a 2025 October construction start.

~ Wyoming is going out for bids on the Phase Two segment of Railroad Park improvements. This will install the history walk, lighting, kiosk, etc. The veterans memorial portion was the first part to be built.    Donations continue to be sufficient for project expenses, council was told.

~ And, the area’s newest dog park is open for use. 

 The old township hall site is currently used for public works and public safety operations. At one time a ballfield was alongside the township hall on Wyoming Trail. This is now a half-acre fenced area for dogs to run and play. Parking has been added.

---