DARIEN — Officials in town government, law enforcement and zoning are all in agreement that there is no place for cannabis retail in Darien.
Darien’s Planning and Zoning Commission is poised to ban cannabis establishments in town outright through a change in the town’s zoning regulations.
Darien police chief Jeremiah Marron threw his support behind the prohibition in a letter submitted to the Planning and Zoning Commission, citing his concerns that dispensaries could lead to an increase in crime rates.
“As the Chief of Police, and from a public safety standpoint, I simply cannot and will not support any measure of action that potentially places our residents, or those visiting our community, in any unnecessary danger,” Marron wrote.
The amendment already earned the support of First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky, who previously told Hearst Connecticut he does not believe the town “should be lending legitimacy to these kinds of businesses” and has strongly advocated against the proposed Nautilus dispensary by the Stamford-Darien border.
Contrary to the Stamford Zoning Board’s public hearings regarding the Nautilus dispensary— in which numerous Darien residents spoke in protest — public turnout for Darien’s own cannabis public hearing on June 11 was low.
The sole member of the public to speak in-person was resident Mark Sticca, a retired captain for the Connecticut State Police who previously served as a commanding officer for the Statewide Narcotics Task Force.
“I commend your efforts for keeping this town clear of this scourge,” Sticca said. “Kudos to you for not falling to the propaganda that’s out there that is saying that marijuana — medical, recreational or otherwise — is anything but unsafe for the general public.”
As it stands currently, Darien does not allow cannabis establishments since they are not on the town’s list of permitted businesses. The amendment would explicitly prohibit cannabis establishments as well as producers and dispensaries.
The commission first proposed the change in early April to remove any ambiguity around whether cannabis establishments would be allowed in Darien.
“Simpler and more specific is better than vague and more general,” member Adam Balgach said. “It’s certainly in accordance with the town plan, so I see no reason not to approve.”
All five Planning and Zoning Commission members present voiced unanimous support for the amendment.
Commission vice chair George Reilly said he considered the ban would move Darien contrary to the rest of the state, but said he was fine with the prohibition because “ultimately they did give us the opportunity to opt out, and I see no particular public sentiment in favor of it.”
