OXFORD — Voters approved changes to the town’s mass-gathering and zoning ordinances, including adding provisions for medical marijuana facilities.

Both votes passed with large majorities. About 70 voters were in attendance. The meeting wrapped up in about 20 minutes.

Peter Martin and Scott Smith of casino developers Black Bear Entertainment were in attendance, as the zoning changes had hotel and height restriction provisions that affected the casino planned for Pigeon Hill on Route 26.

The changes raised the height restriction for buildings on Route 26 from 35 feet to 65 feet and loosened restrictions on hotels. Martin said the changes would be helpful for Black Bear, especially when it builds the planned hotel component.

“I think it’s a benefit for the whole Route 26 corridor to lift the restriction on building height,” Martin said.

The zoning ordinance changed the lot lines around hotels, motels and inns to 25 feet from the building, or 50 feet if the line borders a right of way. The previous rule required a 60-foot border between the motel and the lot line.

One resident asked why the town would add a marijuana dispensary provision when Oxford was unlikely to get a dispensary.

Town Manager Michael Chammings said the town should have one on the books in case circumstances change. If someone did apply for a dispensary, the town would have to set a moratorium while writing the zoning laws, which could be seen as an attempt to zone out a potential dispensary.

The marijuana dispensary rules require the businesses to be at least 1,000 feet from schools, or 500 feet from homes, churches, day care facilities and methadone clinics. Only one dispensary would be allowed to operate in Oxford.

Marijuana could not be visible from outside the building, and must be locked in a safe overnight. Other security measures like surveillance cameras and burglar alarms are required. Marijuana consumption would be illegal on the premises, except by employees with prescriptions.

The mass-gathering ordinance changes require that people living on roads that will be closed for events must receive written notification. For events of more than 10,000 people, like the Nateva Festival, abutters within 500 feet of the event must be notified in writing of the public hearing for the permit.

Nateva Festival organizers have begun selling tickets to the 2011 Nateva Festival, set for Aug. 4 to 7 at the Oxford Fairgrounds on Pottle Road in the north end of town.

Ron Kugell moderated the meeting.

treaves@sunjournal.com