A bid to open up what would be the next pot shop in Fairfax could be headed for defeat in the face of public opposition.
Right after a three-hour hearing, the City Council voted 4-1 on Wednesday to proceed the make a difference to its upcoming meeting. City staff members will present a resolution to reject the application, by the corporation Aspect 7, to open a dispensary at 930 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
The hearing involved about 45 minutes of public testimony in opposition to the proposal. No one particular spoke in assist. Traffic, general public overall health and basic safety were being amid the main factors in opposition to the plan, including in feedback from the council majority.
Councilwoman Barbara Coler, who forged the dissenting vote, reported, “I have not read anything compelling that is new that tells me this would constitute an effect to wellbeing, basic safety and general welfare.”
“What I’m listening to tonight is frankly that no a lot more (cannabis) corporations are welcome,” Coler explained. She mentioned the applicants offered a very good enterprise plan and “seem to have a excellent handle on the hashish rules.”
If accredited, Factor 7 would substitute Mana Bowls, an acai cafe, with a cannabis dispensary identified as Fairfax Solution.
The proposal has pushed residents to gather extra than 700 signatures on a petition against the challenge. A single of the concerns elevated is that inhabitants do not want a corporate cannabis procedure in Fairfax.
In the fall, the Scheduling Commission established the business would be considered a formulation enterprise, or chain keep procedure, and would call for a method enterprise conditional use permit in get to operate. City code does not permit chain firms without the need of just one.
Factor 7, which was launched in 2018 and opened its to start with retail outlet in Fort Bragg, submitted an charm expressing it is not a corporate chain, despite the fact that aspect of the enterprise merged with southern California-based mostly Glass Residence Farms previous yr.
Josh Black, head of functions at Aspect 7, also reported the organization would be keen to accommodate the commission’s problem about layout components, together with the paint colour, the measurement of its indicators, and design of railing.
However, if the resolution to reject the software is approved, the attractiveness becomes moot.
The proposal consists of a stroll-in medical dispensary company, which would call for patrons to have a health care cannabis card approved by a medical professional. There would also be a shipping and delivery ingredient to the business: Shoppers 21 and older could purchase leisure use items for residence shipping and delivery.
Numerous commenters at the meeting mentioned an adult-use dispensary is required to attain a separate enterprise license at a different deal with from the clinical site. The candidates proposed to operate both of those from the same handle.
“This is a sticking issue in the software,” said Lynnette Shaw, founder and proprietor of Marin Alliance CBC, the town’s initially and only hashish store.
Shaw said she experienced to hold out a calendar year to pass inspections in buy to function her business enterprise as different entities.
People claimed the proposed internet site is too well known on the principal drag, across from a important transit hub and surrounded by other spouse and children corporations.
“I can tell you devoid of a doubt that changing a youth hangout with a retail outlet in which 18-calendar year-olds could order hashish concentrates is a wellbeing and basic safety risk,” claimed Michelle Leopold.
Councilwoman Renee Goddard reported the council produced a error when it accepted the town’s cannabis business regulations, particularly criticizing a zoning map that dictated wherever dispensaries could be positioned. Goddard mentioned the council must consider revising the map just before entertaining any other apps.
“We require to transfer the buffers all over to secure our most lively, perfectly frequented multi-aged, multi-festive areas in or city,” she claimed.
The council the greater part agreed.
Mayor Stephanie Hellman explained this is the first time the town’s hashish polices have been tested.
“It was intended for numerous bids. We received a person,” she claimed. “I consider it is flawed. I assume we’re observing that and I believe we’re recognizing that this website is not a very good site.”
