Fairfax council delays vote on marijuana business amid resistance

The listening to included about 45 minutes of public testimony in opposition to the proposal. Nobody spoke in assist. Site visitors, public well being and security have been among the many details in opposition to the plan, together with in feedback from the council majority. After a three-hour listening to, the City Council voted 4-1 on Wednesday to proceed the matter to its subsequent assembly. City workers will current a decision to reject the appliance, by the corporate Ingredient 7, to open a dispensary at 930 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.

“What I’m listening to tonight is frankly that no extra (hashish) companies are welcome,” Coler stated. She stated the candidates offered an excellent marketing strategy and “appear to have an excellent deal with on the hashish rules.”

Councilwoman Barbara Coler, who solid the dissenting vote, stated, “I haven’t heard something compelling that’s new that tells me this could represent an affect to well being, security and common welfare.”

If permitted, Ingredient 7 would change Mana Bowls, an acai cafe, with a hashish dispensary known as Fairfax Treatment.

The proposal has pushed residents to gather greater than 700 signatures on a petition in opposition to the undertaking. One of many issues raised is that residents don’t need a company hashish operation in Fairfax.

Within the fall, the Planning Fee decided the enterprise could be thought of a formulation enterprise, or chain retailer operation, and would require a formulation enterprise conditional use allow in an effort to function. City code does permit chain companies with out one.

Ingredient 7, which was based in 2018 and opened its first retailer in Fort Bragg, filed an enchantment saying it’s not a company chain, though a part of the corporate merged with southern California-based Glass Home Farms final 12 months.

Nonetheless, if the decision to reject the appliance is permitted, the enchantment turns into moot.

Josh Black, head of operations at Ingredient 7, additionally stated the corporate could be keen to accommodate the fee’s concern about design parts, together with the paint colour, the scale of its indicators, and magnificence of railing.

The proposal features a walk-in medical dispensary enterprise, which might require patrons to have a medical marijuana card approved by a physician. There would even be a supply part to the enterprise: Prospects 21 and older might order leisure use merchandise for residence supply.

A number of commenters on the assembly stated an adult-use dispensary is required to acquire a separate enterprise license at a separate tackle from the medical web site. The candidates proposed to function each from the identical tackle.

“It is a sticking level within the utility,” stated Lynnette Shaw, founder and proprietor of Marin Alliance CBC, the city’s first and solely hashish store.

Shaw stated she needed to wait a 12 months to move inspections in an effort to function her enterprise as separate entities.

Residents stated the proposed web site is simply too distinguished on the principle drag, throughout from a significant transit hub and surrounded by different household companies.

“I can let you know undoubtedly that changing a youth hangout with a retailer the place 18-year-olds might buy hashish concentrates is a well being and security danger,” stated Michelle Leopold.

“We have to transfer the buffers round to guard our most vigorous, effectively frequented multi-aged, multi-festive areas in or city,” she stated.

Councilwoman Renee Goddard stated the council made a mistake when it permitted the city’s hashish enterprise rules, particularly criticizing a zoning map that dictated the place dispensaries could possibly be located. Goddard stated the council ought to think about revising the map earlier than entertaining another functions.

Mayor Stephanie Hellman stated that is the primary time the city’s hashish rules have been examined.

The council majority agreed.