Groton ― Cannabis retailers, cultivators, and manufacturers soon can apply to operate in some areas of town, under new regulations passed Tuesday by the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission.
The commission unanimously voted to approve regulations, which will go into effect May 15, to allow cannabis establishments, with some conditions, in certain town zones.
The regulations do not apply to Groton Long Point, the City of Groton and Noank, which have their own zoning.
Under a 2021 state law legalizing adult cannabis use, the state licenses cannabis businesses, while towns and cities can pass regulations, including banning them, outlining the hours that they can operate, and specifying how far they can be from schools and other places.
In 2021, the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted to temporarily prohibit cannabis establishments to give the commission time to work on regulations, such as what zones they would be allowed in and under what conditions.
Specifically, the new regulations conditionally allow cannabis retailers or hybrid retailers in Commercial, Regional zone, which house heavier commercial uses; Mixed Use Town Center zone; and Industrial, Mixed Use zone.
Cannabis cultivators would conditionally be allowed in Commercial, Regional zone; Industrial, Mixed Use zone; and Industrial, General zone. Micro-cultivators conditionally could operate in those zones as well as in Rural Residential zone.
Businesses specializing in cannabis delivery service, manufacturing, packaging or transporting conditionally would be allowed in the Industrial, Mixed Use and Industrial, General zone.
Large-scale food and beverage manufacturers conditionally would be allowed in the Industrial, Mixed Use zone and Industrial, General zone. Small-scale food and beverage manufacturers also would be conditionally allowed in those zones, as well as in the Commercial, Neighborhood zone; Commercial, Regional zone; Mixed Use Town Center zone; and, by special permit, in Rural Residential zones.
Conditions include that the businesses can’t be located within 1,500 feet of “schools, places of worship, hospitals, charitable institutions, veterans’ homes, and barracks or flying fields of the armed forces.” In addition, cannabis establishments can’t be located within 1,500 feet of each other.
A security plan and certified copy of state permitting are also required, Jones said. A special permit would be required for any cannabis establishment that abuts a lot in a residential zoning district, a step that would allow the commission to stipulate more conditions than with a site plan review.
Curaleaf looking to expand offerings.
The town has a medical marijuana dispensary, Curaleaf Groton, on Gold Star Highway. In a statement Wednesday, Curaleaf said it currently offers recreational sales at its Stamford and Hartford locations and is working to expand its offerings across its Connecticut locations where permitted by local and state officials.
During Tuesday’s public hearing, attorney John Casey, spoke in support of the regulations on behalf of Curaleaf Groton LLC.
Casey said he knows the commission put a lot of effort into the regulations, and the company thinks the regulations, which are specifically tailored to allow the use of cannabis establishments with reasonable conditions, will benefit the town.
Town of Groton’s Assistant Director of Planning and Development Services Deborah Jones said that the medical marijuana dispensary was considered similar to a pharmacy and allowed to open. When the commission passed in 2021 its prohibition on cannabis businesses, the dispensary became a “previously approved but non-conforming use.” With the new regulations, the business again will be considered a conforming use.
In response to a question from a commission member, Jones confirmed that the dispensary is located in a Commercial, Regional zone and could apply to be a hybrid retailer to sell marijuana products for medical and recreational use.
Last June, the Noank Zoning Commission voted to prohibit cannabis establishments in the Noank Fire District, according to Rick Smith, chairman of the Noank Zoning Commission.
The City of Groton has not yet adopted regulations, as it has been waiting to see what the town does. It has not seen a large demand for cannabis businesses wanting to open in the city and also is in the process of updating its regulations on a number of other items, said City Planner Leslie Creane. The city plans to evaluate the town’s regulations.
H/T: www.theday.com
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