DERBY – Members of the Derby Planning and Zoning Commission are tweaking their rules to limit the number of cannabis shops allowed in the city to just one.
The commission approved a retail cannabis shop in January for 90 Pershing Drive, the property that houses Italian Pavilion. The plans called for the building to be renovated so that the majority of the space will house the cannabis shop next to a smaller version of Italian Pavilion.
That cannabis shop has not opened, but Italian Pavilion announced on Facebook that it would be closing for construction this month and re-opening in the fall.
At the time the Pershing Drive cannabis shop was approved, the commission was operating under regulations from the state that limited Derby to one shop. However, the state eliminated those regulations and left it up to the towns.
So that meant the commissioners had to revisit their local cannabis regulations and decide whether to allow more shops or keep it at one. They talked about the matter at a meeting on Aug. 20.
Ultimately the commissioners thought one cannabis shop was enough for Connecticut’s smallest city. It’s not the official Derby rule, yet, though – the commission will hold a public hearing, most likely in October, to get input from residents.
A formal vote on the issue could happen after the public hearing.
The commission is also changing its regulations to eliminate a provision that allows cannabis shops to open in shopping centers 50,000 square feet or more.
Commissioner David Kopjanski said limiting the number of stores to one is the best way to go.
“We should limit it to one and we should also eliminate the shopping center exemption and let’s see where it goes from there,” Kopjanski said. “We can quickly add a second one, or a third, through another amendment if we see a need for it. But right now, it’s open season on Derby.”
Commissioner William Harris said limiting the business makes sense, even if it limits tax revenue.
“Cities can levy a three percent tax on these businesses, but I don’t think that three percent is worth having more than one of these facilities in Derby,” Harris said.
The sale of recreational marijuana became legal in Connecticut on Jan. 10, 2023.
A cannabis retail shop was approved in Seymour, and there is one operating in Naugatuck.
H/T: valley.newhavenindependent.org
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