ESCANABA — Clashing views on how to regulate where marijuana establishments can be located in the city led to an unexpected result Thursday, when the city council voted to abandon proposed buffer requirements from churches, daycares and libraries and return to a map drafted in 2020.

“If the planning commission has already created the document and put time into it and it is considered a functional document, then I feel that’s what we should follow,” said Mayor Mark Ammel.

The map was originally created as a back up plan for the city in case a voter-initiated ballot proposal forced the city to allow retail marijuana sales. It includes a 1,000-foot buffer zone around schools, which is the same as the default buffer in the state law, however, the council voted to reduce the buffer to 500 feet.

The decision to reduce the buffers around schools and remove proposed buffers around daycares, libraries and churches included voices from both ends of the spectrum of opinion on legalized marijuana.

Both council members Tyler DuBord and Todd Flath took libertarian stances by arguing all buffers should be eliminated.

“I’m good with removing the buffer zone. It restricts a lot of potential for dispensaries and developments looking forward to the opting-in (to marijuana sales),” said DuBord. “There are a a lot of community churches and churches in the city that are within walking distance to a convenience store that sells alcohol and tobacco. You have those that are within walking distance to the distillery coming into the city. These are retail shops too. You have to be 21 years old. You have to show an ID to purchase any of the product.”

Council Member Karen Moore, who has been a vocal supporter of restrictive measures — including being the first to suggest a 1,000-foot buffer around libraries — took issue with the idea of completely eliminating the buffers, citing public comment by Fr. Tim Ferguson, pastor of St. Joseph and St. Patrick Parish, at the council’s joint meeting with the planning commission requesting a 1,000-foot buffer around churches.

“I think that we just have to allow for citizen participation. I think it’s a slap in the face when a priest comes to our meeting and makes a request and we ignore it. I just have a problem with that,” said Moore, who said Ferguson represented 600 to 700 Escanaba families between his two churches.

The suggestion to go back to the original map as it was drafted in November of 2020 came from Ammel, but further discussion led Ammel to change a motion modify the map to include the reduced buffer around schools.

Only Moore voted against the motion. The map will now be send back to the planning commission, which is composed of different members than it was in 2020, for review and modifications.

In other business the council

— voted to condemn a home located at 1002 Stephenson Avenue that had previously been posted unsafe to occupy.

— heard an update from City Manager Patrick Jordan on progress being made towards the sale and redevelopment of the sites of the former Delta County Jail and Chamber of Commerce buildings. Currently, purchase agreements are being reviewed for the properties.

— were updated that the potential purchase of city-owned land located at 419 South 32nd Street had fallen through after the potential buyer declined to increase their offer.

— approved closing Ludington Street from 10th Street to 14th Street on Sept. 10 for Yooperfest.

— approved hiring the Central Upper peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission (CUPPAD) to conduct a Davis Bacon Act wage review for water infrastructure work.

— approved a special event application for a Labor Day celebration parade and event on Monday, Sept. 5. The parade will begin at the Marketplace and move to the Municipal Dock.