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AP File Photo/Marina Riker
AP File Photo/Marina Riker
WHATELY — After withdrawing a proposed marijuana manufacturing land-use bylaw prior to the 2023 Annual Town Meeting, representatives of Debilitating Medical Condition Treatment Centers (DMCTC) appeared before the Planning Board last week to pitch a revised, narrower proposal.
The marijuana cultivator, manufacturer and soon-to-be retailer is proposing an amendment to the land-use table of Whately’s bylaws that would allow a marijuana manufacturer or registered marijuana dispensary to create products without the use of chemical solvents through special permit approval. Currently, marijuana product manufacturing is allowed in the Industrial and Commercial-Industrial districts through special permit approval, but it is prohibited in the Commercial District.
Attorney Isaac Fleisher, who is representing DMCTC, said the new proposal is a response to previous Planning Board concerns about the 2023 proposal adding too much new language, as the original draft last year created a new land use in the zoning bylaws.
“We tried to simplify it by not involving a brand-new use. … The proposal is to expand that to the Commercial District as well, still requiring a special permit, with a footnote, which limits marijuana manufacturing in the Commercial District to solvent-less extraction,” Fleisher said. “It lays out a really clear and enforceable condition. … The special permit cannot be issued without that condition.”
Solvent-less extraction means creating marijuana products, such as pre-roll joints or edible products in a kitchen, without the use of ethanol, butane or carbon dioxide. DMCTC currently conducts solvent-based extraction at its 3 River Road location.
The company is proposing the bylaw change as it seeks to convert the rest of its 420 State Road facility into a small-scale marijuana product manufacturing site, which would work alongside its planned dispensary at the former Sugarloaf Shoppes.
Fleisher, as well as DMCTC Director Jared Glanz-Berger, said the bylaw could also encourage other businesses to potentially bring small marijuana manufacturing facilities to Whately, which could be an economic driver for the town, especially as companies like Yankee Candle pack up their buildings in the region.
“It should increase the value of commercial properties in the town because there will be additional uses and additional investors,” Glanz-Berger said, emphasizing this is a zoning change for the town, not just for their shop. “Cannabis is kind of the new face of agriculture. Whately has really strong agricultural land and should have co-located manufacturing.”
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Glanz-Berger said facilities like the one they have planned would also create “very attractive jobs” in town.
Last week’s meeting served as an introduction to the revised bylaw, as Planning Board Chair Brant Cheikes noted it was “just a preliminary conversation.” He said the board will pick up the topic again at its September meeting, but likely will not hold a public hearing in time for an Oct. 22 Special Town Meeting.
DMCTC representatives asked if it was possible to get the item on the Special Town Meeting warrant, but Planning Board members JD Ross and Sara Cooper noted Special Town Meetings are typically sparsely attended and bylaw changes usually go to Annual Town Meetings.
Fellow Planning Board member Laura Ross said the board has a few things to consider, specifically how many jobs would be created and if the wages from those jobs would be enough for people to live in the area.
“If we start widening our allowances or opening certain doors,” Laura Ross said, “are those doors going to actually be beneficial beyond just being beneficial to your company?”
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.
“}]] WHATELY — After withdrawing a proposed marijuana manufacturing land-use bylaw prior to the 2023 Annual Town Meeting, representatives of Debilitating Medical Condition Treatment Centers (DMCTC) appeared before the Planning Board last week to pitch a… Read More