In Marshfield, the Zoning Board of Appeals conducted two site visits to recreational marijuana dispensaries proposed in town.
The ZBA conducted the visits to 120 Enterprise Drive, where Health Circle, LLC is proposing a dispensary to be located at an existing 14,000 square foot building. Frozen 4 is proposing a recreational dispensary at 985 Plain Street, the current site of Buckles & Boards Ski Shop.
Numerous meetings have been held on both proposals, though lately they’ve been held remotely due to COVID-19.
“It’s really important for the board to be together, and we have been in Zoom since March,” said ZBA Chair Lynne Fidler. “This board has been amazing as far as making themselves available, we had a hearing last week that went five hours. It’s not something that we take lightly.”
During public viewings from Enterprise Drive and Plain Street, the board asked questions to the applicants that focused on traffic impacts and parking.
“It’s new for our bylaws and it’s part of what this board is all about,” said Fidler. “We want to get it right.”
Attorney Valerio Romano is representing Health Circle at 120 Enterprise Drive. He says they have 27 spots for parking, and employees would park off-site. Opening day plans would include a detail officer.
“Our security plans are and will remain to be an open book with the police department,” said Romano. “They’re a living document so as we get closer to opening, any suggestions from the police department that we need to make, or even as we’re operating, that living document will be continued to be amended so we have a sharp, compliant, secure facility that meets the concerns of the town.”
A concern from Marshfield Town Planner Greg Guimond was voiced at a recent hearing on the project. With housing, recreational fields, and a brewery near Enterprise Drive, he felt improvements are needed for the left turn onto Route 139. Romano says the project’s traffic engineer for the project will work with Guimond for a solution, more details would be discussed at the next hearing.
Frozen Four is proposing a recreational dispensary at 985 Plain street – off Route 139.
Don Gibson voiced opposition to the project at a prior ZBA meeting, and requested that the board deny the special permit request. As a partner with the law firm Driscoll and Gibson across the street, he called the project a “disaster waiting to happen,” with traffic that would be generated.
A traffic light is proposed at the School Street intersection, which will be discussed at the next ZBA hearing.
Attorney Steven Guard says a right-turn only would be in effect until that’s installed. More than 85 parking spots are proposed.
ZBA Chair Lynne Fiddler says people can still weigh in on the proposals.
“Our board encourages the public to listen in to our Zoom our on MCTV. We want to hear what the public has to say, they can certainly dial in, participate off their computers, or provide letters to the board through our administrator, that will be part of the record,” said Fidler. “We do take what they have to say seriously. Sometimes they bring up very good points that we haven’t thought of before.”
The next ZBA hearing for Frozen 4 (985 Plain Street) was set for September 8.
The ZBA plans on presenting draft conditions at the next Health Circle (120 Enterprise Drive) hearing, which was set for September 22.
The building at 120 Enterprise Drive, where Health Circle, LLC is proposing a recreational marijuana facility. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.
