A zoning change and a conditional use permit were both denied last Thursday by the Kingfisher Planning and Zoning Board.

Several dozen citizens attended the noon meeting at City Hall, most of whom were there in regards to the conditional use permit sought by Jay Steuart, owner of Ace Hardware and the buildings on its property.

“I’m here today to ask for your consideration and support of a proposal to repurpose an old storage building on our property,” Steuart said.

The property is located at 113 N. 6th St. in a building that’s only accessible by the alley.

As owner, Steuart said he would lease the property to a local grower, but wouldn’t be a nuisance to the surrounding properties as it would only be a plant nursery.

“Specifically this would include a marijuana grow nursery, focused solely on mother plants and clones,” he said.

“So let me be clear, I don’t want to smell this. I don’t want anybody else to smell this. I don’t want anybody to know it’s there.

“This facility would not include any processing, flowering, blooming or marijuana plants that have the pungent smell. That means no odors, no retail operation, no increase in traffic and, most important, no visibility.”

Steuart said the growing would begin at the facility, but the plants would be moved elsewhere to become finished products.

“I just think that, in my opinion, it’s not the appropriate place,” said Austin Evans, chairman of the P&Z board. “There should be other places that they could find for this facility…other than downtown.”

Neal Brown, Jean Crosswhite, Eddie Payne, Reggie Redwine and Judy Whipple joined Evans in making the vote unanimous.

The board also denied a request to rezone a property at 1000 S. Main St. from residential to general commercial.

The property sits on the west side of Main Street at the corner of West Locust Avenue. It is directly north of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church.

The request was made by Mike Matthews Properties LLC, which was represented at the meeting by Blake Pyle.

Pyle said the intent is to demolish the existing home on the property, which he said was “beyond repair,” and build a commercial center that could house up to six businesses.

The company would be selective in who could rent out the spaces, Pyle said.

“We’re not necessarily trying to steal renters from other places,” Pyle said. “We’d like to bring new places into town so we have new businesses.”

He said the building would be about 60 feet by 150 feet with drive-thrus on either end and parking in both the front and back.

Pyle said the space could allow for up to 48 parking spots.

Before the vote, P&Z board members expressed concern that the general commercial zoning was “too broad.”

Evans said he felt there was a “lack of materials” provided in support of the zoning change.

“(It) also seems pretty broad under the circumstances,” he said of the requested zoning change before it was unanimously voted down.

After the vote, Evans said, “I’m in favor of the motion (to deny), but with the understanding that I personally wouldn’t be opposed to you coming back with some additional materials and seeking a more restrictive commercial zone.”