PHILLIPSTON — Local cannabis entrepreneur Damon Schmidt said he is abandoning plans for a combination cultivation and retail facility at the corner of Baldwin Hill Road and State Road/Route 2A. Instead, he plans on opening a retail establishment only.
Schmidt revealed the change in plans Thursday night during a sparsely attended community outreach meeting, held via video conference, which is required by state law.
Schmidt said a surveyor determined a retaining wall would need to be constructed to accommodate a greenhouse if the facility was to meet requirements set by the town’s zoning bylaws.
Regulations say the rear of any cannabis business can be no more than 400 feet from curbside. Schmidt had hope to obtain a special permit extending the distance to 800 feet.
“We really wanted to try to do it,” said Schmidt. “It would be perfect if we could go back 800 feet and be on top of the hill where no one could see it. Another way to do it would be to bring it down closer to the road, but to do that I’d probably need to build a 40- to 50-foot retaining wall. So, we kind of just threw up our hands. It’s just dead in the water now.”
Schmidt did say he has three other cultivation facilities in the works — one each in Royalston, Templeton and Hubbardston.
Schmidt went on to explain that the purpose of the community outreach meeting was to allow him to pass his application along to the state Cannabis Control Commission.
“Phillipston has already signed a host community agreement,” he said. “So, in order for us to turn our application in to the CCC for a retail store, we not only need a signed community host agreement, but we have to host an outreach meeting.” He said further that a proposed year-long moratorium on retail marijuana shops in Phillipston, if passed by voters at the upcoming annual town meeting, would have no impact on his plans.
“We held our first community outreach meeting (regarding a cultivation operation) in March of 2019,” said Schmidt. “Phillipston passed a recreational marijuana by law three to six months later.
“In September 2019, we wrote Phillipston a check for $900 and filled out their application for a retail marijuana store, a manufacturing facility, and a cultivation facility. A couple of weeks later, we gave them another $5,000, which they requested, to sign the HCA. So, we feel the moratorium has nothing to do with us. If the town does pass it, it has implications for other companies but not for us.”
Another issue addressed by Schmidt was that of traffic. His retail shop would be located near a busy exit to Route 2. He said he paid $20,000 for a study to see if his business would have a significant impact on traffic. The entrance to his business will be located on State Road.
During the peak traffic hour in the 4 to 5 p.m. timeframe, the study found 471 eastbound vehicles pass the site, while 269 are headed west. The volume increases slightly on weekends. It was estimated that between 44 and 60 cars per hour, during peak weekday traffic, would be entering and exiting the cannabis shop. On weekends, the figure jumps to around 70.
In addition, Schmidt outlined security measures that would be instituted to ensure no sales are made to anyone under 21 years of age, and to prevent thefts or break-ins. He also plans to distribute educational materials regarding the use and effects of marijuana.
Now that he will be able to submit his application to the CCC, Schmidt said he anticipates receiving his provisional license from the state by November or December of this year.
I would do what ever you please as zoning laws are not enforce in Templeton nor are septic laws or water requirements just look at 32 Drury lane it violated 150 ft set back between high ways 30 and 15 ft set backs for property boarders , even the environmental is being violated dumping gravel within 20 ft of water stream , and the Templeton light and water department violate their own policy which has just been change to accommodate this property and allow a meter on poll to energizes house trailer and campers most of what should be condemned
ReplyDelete20 thousand to study if traffic will be issue ? who does these studies , anyhow > this is what school degrees get you study traffic for biz , just asking who does this please advise
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