Cannabis facility eyes move to Vernon | Vernon
VERNON — The operator of the South Windsor-based medical cannabis dispensary Prime Wellness of Connecticut is seeking an application to open a hybrid facility on Route 83 at a former gym and children’s activity center, with plans to sell to both medical and recreational cannabis.
CANNABIS HEARING
WHAT: A public hearing on a special permit to open a hybrid cannabis facility on Route 83.
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Town Hall.
The Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Town Hall regarding what would be the first cannabis facility in town.
If approved, Prime Wellness of Connecticut would be relocating from South Windsor to Vernon, Director of Economic Development Shaun Gately said.
The parcel on Route 83 has not been fully utilized since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The owner of the property was already approved to establish a package store on the lot, but has since shifted to leasing the property for recreational cannabis sales.
While the special permit being sought does face more scrutiny, such as whether there would be hazardous conditions to public health or major traffic issues, “if it meets the regulations, then there’s really not a reason to deny it,” Gately said.
He noted that when recreational cannabis facilities first opened in Massachusetts, there was a rush that created traffic problems. But now that there are facilities popping up in Connecticut, the demand at specific locations has dropped.
“It’s not a foregone conclusion,” Gately said of PZC approval, but “I just don’t see much in the way of traffic or zoning concerns.”
He said there has been a lot of interest from businesses attempting to start a retail cannabis store in town, but the drug remaining illegal under federal law complicates who can provide the product.
Because the Route 83 property is owned outright, the land can be used for this purpose, Gately said.
While “the town has its reservations” regarding safety, not seeing an increase in traffic accidents in area towns that have cannabis retailers has eased some of those concerns, he said.
If approved, the store also could provide a tax boost.
“We’re conservatively estimating that it would be around $100,000 a year,” Gately said.
Gately said Vernon has an ordinance in place that prohibits smoking cannabis in public, and the state prohibits consuming cannabis in any way at a dispensary in which it’s sold.
He said the site on Route 83 meets the town’s zoning requirement that any cannabis facility be at least 3,000 feet from a school.
Because of Prime Wellness’ long history of operating its facility in South Windsor, Gately is confident its operators would make a good fit in Vernon.
“They’re professional,” he said. “If it gets approved, we’re looking forward to working with them.”
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