W'burg City Council approves updates to tax ordinances, presents new ordinances on medical cannabis and building codes

Nov. 14—WILLIAMSBURG — The Williamsburg City Council approved two ordinances Tuesday aimed at simplifying existing restaurant tax and transient room tax ordinances.

Alongside these measures, the council held the first reading of ordinances related to medical cannabis zoning and building code compliance, with a second reading scheduled for Thursday.

Mayor Roddy Harrison and City Attorney Josh Lowe shared insights on these legislative steps, which aim to streamline city processes and support Williamsburg's growth.

The restaurant tax ordinance, which imposes a 3% tax on gross sales from food establishments, is intended to support city services and infrastructure. Mayor Harrison emphasized the council's effort to keep the process straightforward.

"Everything we did was to try to clean it all up, especially for new businesses to understand," Harrison said, emphasizing that the tax's structure was designed for transparency and ease of implementation.

The transient room tax, also approved at the meeting, enacts a 4% tax (compared to a 3% and 1% tax) on short-term accommodations such as hotels, motels, and vacation rentals like VRBOs and Airbnbs. This cleans up past ordinances, where verbiage was unclear.

Mayor Harrison clarified, "It's not [a tax] on the business owners personally; it's a tax on the accommodations offered within the city."

The council also held the first reading of an ordinance regulating medical cannabis businesses within Williamsburg. Following Kentucky's recent legalization of medical cannabis, this ordinance establishes zoning restrictions for dispensaries and cultivation facilities, requiring them to be located at least 1,000 feet from schools, daycares, and places of worship.

City Attorney Lowe explained the extensive state oversight for cannabis businesses, stating, "The state will have the ability to go into these businesses without a warrant and basically audit them."

Lowe acknowledged the council's cautious approach to introducing cannabis businesses, ensuring alignment with both community values and state regulations.

"This ordinance addresses community concerns while aligning with the state's framework," Lowe noted, adding that the council remains open to making adjustments about the restriction around a place of worship. "Everything is subject to the council's decisions and input."

In addition, the council introduced an ordinance to adopt the Kentucky Building Code and Kentucky Residential Code for all new construction within Williamsburg. The ordinance is intended to bring local building standards in line with state regulations, enhancing safety and ensuring consistency.

"This ordinance updates our regulations to comply with new Kentucky statutes," said Lowe, underscoring the city's commitment to high standards.

The measure also includes the creation of a building inspection program to enforce these codes locally.

"This hasn't changed a whole lot, but what this does is it gives us that office and strengthens our compliance efforts," Lowe explained.

The second reading for the medical cannabis and building code ordinances will be held on Thursday, giving the council an opportunity to finalize or adjust these policies based on feedback and further discussion.