Following minor clashes, the Maricopa Planning and Zoning Commission on a 5-1 vote Tuesday forwarded to City Council updates of city zoning code and licensing requirements on marijuana facilities.

The zoning-code text amendment updates definitions of the types of marijuana facilities permitted in the city, clarifies location distances, and adds requirements for security plans and odor control. If approved by the council, these would mark the first major changes to the code on marijuana facilities since 2021, when an emergency provision prohibited all recreational-only facilities from operating in Maricopa.

That effectively required anyone wishing to open a recreational marijuana facility to obtain dual licenses to include a medical marijuana dispensary.

Debate emerged on the P&Z panel Tuesday regarding distances that qualifying marijuana facilities – recreational pot — may operate from a list of locations, particularly schools. P&Z Vice Chair Bill Robertson moved to recommend the distance from schools be 1,000 feet instead of 500 feet, making it similar to city code for liquor licenses.

“I’m concerned that 500 feet from schools is simply not enough,” Robertson said.

Commissioner Jim Irving, long an advocate for schools, surprisingly voiced opposition during the…