A medical marijuana ordinance that would regulate where a facility could be located in Walnutport is one step closer to being adopted.

Borough council on a 6-0 vote Thursday agreed to approve the proposed ordinance as a final draft and send to the borough’s planning commission, as well as the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission. Councilman Harold Greene was absent.

From there, borough solicitor Michael Corriere told council that the next step would be for the ordinance to be advertised.

Corriere told council that he drafted a medical marijuana ordinance that provided for certain uses.

He said last month the ordinance would include a medical marijuana growing processing plant in an industrial zone, medical marijuana transport vehicle facilities in an industrial zone, clinical research in both a general commercial and industrial zone, and medical marijuana dispensaries in a general commercial zone, all by special exception.

“If we don’t provide for it now, then we don’t have any control (over where they could be located in the borough),” Corriere said.

Borough engineer Jason Newhard added, “We can regulate where it goes.”

Council initially debated the issue in May after it was noted the matter has been a hot-button topic in neighboring Lehigh Township.

Councilwoman Patrice Hunsicker said at that time she believes it should be in industrial zoning because she would rather see it away from residential.

Council agreed at that meeting to have Corriere and borough engineer Jason Newhard review the ordinance.

After that meeting, Corriere said the general commercial district would be for dispensaries, and the industrial district would be for growing facilities.

In May, Lehigh Township’s planning commission voted to recommend the township’s zoning hearing board reject a proposal to build a medical marijuana growing and processing facility, along with a fast-food restaurant with a drive-thru.

LURRS, a partnership that owns land across the street from Lehigh Engineering Associates on Riverview Drive, is seeking a special exception from the township planning commission for the medical marijuana facilities, which is needed for the facility to be built within the general commercial district.

The Lehigh Township Zoning Hearing Board will meet at 6 p.m. Aug. 24 at the Lehigh Township Fire Department building located at 4188 Lehigh Drive, Cherryville.