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Marijuana store seeking more visible retail space

Matt Stensland

— A local marijuana business has proposed moving its retail operations to a more visible location at Curve Plaza between two restaurants and a liquor store.

Natural Choice is currently tucked away in a commercial building on the west side of Steamboat at 2835 Downhill Plaza. Rocky Mountain Remedies operates in the same area, while Steamboat’s third marijuana store, Golden Leaf, has Lincoln Avenue frontage west of the Steamboat Springs Community Center.

Natural Choice is the newest of the three marijuana stores allowed in Steamboat. They started selling medicinal marijuana in 2010 and began selling marijuana for recreational use in November 2014.



Natural Choice is eyeing a 1,200-square-foot commercial space between Lil’ House Country Biscuits & Coffee and Arctic Liquors.

Natural Choice owners could not be reached for comment Tuesday.



The city of Steamboat Springs requires marijuana businesses to go through the conditional use permit process.

Planner Toby Stauffer said the plan is currently being reviewed for consistency with city codes. Natural Choice will receive feedback before the issue goes before the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission would make a recommendation to the City Council, which is the ultimate decision-maker.

Stauffer said once public hearing dates have been set, notifications would be sent to property owners within 300 feet of the property boundary.

So far, city staff members have identified one issue that does not comply with the city’s code.

Marijuana stores cannot be located within 1,000 feet of a school, child care center or park. The proposed new location for Natural Choice is 977 feet as the crow flies to Bear River Park. Natural Choice is seeking an exception to the code.

The 1,000-foot rule has made it essentially impossible for marijuana stores to operate anywhere other than the west side of Steamboat, away from downtown and Steamboat Ski Area.

Natural Choice contends people would not need to pass the store while going to or coming from the park.

The city also has restrictions in place on signage for marijuana businesses. The rules state they shall not display signs visible from the exterior of the premises advertising the presence of marijuana on the premises. That includes signs using the word marijuana or depictions of any portion of the marijuana plant.

Natural Choice has stated they will not display such signs.

To reach Matt Stensland, call 970-871-4247, email mstensland@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @SBTStensland


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