BREWSTER – Brewster’s bylaws potentially allow two retail marijuana shops to exist within the town, but it seems only one will be established.
The town allows for a medical marijuana facility to convert into a retail store without counting against the one-shop limit.
The Haven Center was originally intended to be a medical dispensary, but is now looking to be a retail shop instead.
In a meeting last week, Town Administrator Peter Lombardi said The Haven Center’s plan, filed in December of 2017, ushered in a zoning freeze for three years, allowing the center to skip over a certain element of the establishment process.
“They are required to go through the site plan review process with the planning board, but not specifically seek a special permit,” Lombardi said.
This means the town’s board cannot deny a review of the site plan, but rather they can only add conditions.
Brewster Botanicals, Mother Earth, Nature’s Alternative, and Paines Creek LLC have all made plans to open a shop in Brewster, but The Haven Center is far ahead in the process.
The four other plans had to have secured a medical designation prior to a vote in February of 2018.
“(The Haven Center has) indicated to us, and in their paper work to the planning board, that they’re not planning to convert from medical to retail,” Lombardi continued.
“So, if they go through the local permitting, they will have secured the one license available in our bylaws.”
Along with the permitting process, The Haven Center still needs site plan approval and a building permit issued.
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