SHELTON — Rodeo Cannabis’ plans to open the city’s first and only cannabis dispensary appear to be up in smoke.
The Planning and Zoning Commission, at its meeting Wednesday, asked zoning staff to prepare a resolution denying Rodeo Cannabis’ request to open in 2,000-square-feet of vacant space — in the former bank location right next to newly opened Leo Tobacco & Cigar — at Crown Point Center off Bridgeport Avenue.
The commission vote on the resolution will take place at a future meeting.
“This location is just not a good fit for this application,” said commissioner Ruth Parkins.
Most commissioners said they felt cannabis shop representatives underestimated the amount of traffic the business would generate, which in turn would adversely impact the other shops in the multi-building development.
“This is just inappropriate,” commission Chair Virginia Harger said about Rodeo Cannabis’ plans to use the old bank location.
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Attorney Dominick Thomas, representing Rodeo’s applicants, declined comment until the commission took a formal vote.
Harger said when the Planned Development District was approved for Crown Point Center, the bank was considered a low traffic generator which was better suited for the space located in a building with three other tenants.
If approved Rodeo Cannabis would be located right next to a smoke shop, which Harger said would only make the already tight location even more congested.
“The balance of tenant activity would be affected … (Rodeo Cannabis) would take spaces away from customers for the other shops,” she said. “I’m concerned that their business operations would suffer.”
Harger said had Rodeo Cannabis sought approval to move into a standalone building, her stance might have been different.
“In real estate, you say location, location, location,” Harger said. “For Rodeo Cannabis, this is just not the correct location.”
Commissioner Jimmy Tickey said many people who spoke at the public hearing on this plan confused the now legal and heavily regulated cannabis sales with the smoke shops, some of which have been cited in the past for selling illegal cannabis items.
“We should be spending our attention on the proliferation of so called ‘smoke shops’ which can sell dangerous products advertised as candy to youngsters,” Tickey said, “Instead we banned the only legal and legitimate application before the city for a regulated cannabis site consistent with state guidelines and oversight as nearby towns have.”
Shelton is home to nine smoke shops, seven of which are located along Bridgeport Avenue.
This decision comes two weeks after local officials and residents spoke against Rodeo Cannabis becoming the only cannabis retail sales shop in the city.
The Board of Aldermen, at its April 10 meeting, unanimously voted to adopt an ordinance prohibiting all types of cannabis establishments and retail sales of cannabis or cannabis-related items, an action supported by Mayor Mark Lauretti, who often stated that cannabis sales had no place in the city.
Medical marijuana sales are already banned in Shelton.
Even with the ban, Rodeo Cannabis’ application could still be heard by the Planning and Zoning Commission because it was filed prior to the ban’s approval.
Rodeo Cannabis representatives, including co-founder and CEO Arthur Linares, were on hand for the public hearing. Linares is a former Connecticut state senator and husband of Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons.
The application first came in as a request for a certificate of zoning compliance. The commission refused to discuss the application at a meeting earlier this month, citing legal counsel stating it was not properly filed.
Thomas then filed an application with the commission for a minor modification to the already approved Planned Development District for the property to allow the use.
The aldermen created the ordinance prohibiting cannabis establishments after the Planning and Zoning Commission at a March meeting deadlocked, 3-3, on a resolution to prohibit such shops. The deadlock meant the motion failed, allowing applications to be filed starting April 1.
Only hours after the commission’s moratorium ended, Linares filed an application to open a hybrid medical and recreational dispensary in Crown Point Center.
H/T: www.nhregister.com
