With some hesitation, the Planning Board recommended approval for a special permit and variances for a retail marijuana dispensary proposed for 307 Broadway.
The project will now go before the Zoning Board of Appeals on Jan. 10.
The applicant, Concrete Garden, withdrew an application with the ZBA for a special permit at the same location in the summer. Both the ZBA and Planning Board expressed reservations about the number of violations racked up by the owner of the property, Peach Enterprises.
Concrete Garden was back before the ZBA at its December meeting with a new proposal, which included the applicant working with the landlord to address the building code issues, as well as the use violations at the Broadway building.
“The reason we are in front of you again is because there were outstanding violations at this building, not in our unit per se, but in the building itself,” said Concrete Garden cofounder Vladimir Samuel. “On Sept. 9, we were able to receive a list from the city after having the city walk the building. In the past month, we have put in building permits and electrical permits as well as plumbing permits to remedy those violations. We do believe we will be able to begin that work in January, and we will be done and all violations will be remedied by March.”
As they were earlier in 2022, Planning Board members said they had no issues with Samuel or his business plan for a retail marijuana dispensary, but several said they were still concerned…
