Mar. 10—ENFIELD — The town will be getting a hybrid recreational and medical cannabis retailer in the former Outback Steakhouse building on Elm Street after the Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday unanimously approved a special-use permit for the project.

The permit allows Willow Brook Enfield LLC, doing business as Zen Leaf Enfield, to renovate and occupy 90C Elm St. for its establishment. The commission also found the dispensary meets the town's required separation distances from children's facilities.

Director of Planning and Development Laurie Whitten said she thinks the site is the best location in town for the dispensary and the applicant meets all criteria per zoning regulations.

Richard Roberts, the attorney for Willow Brook Enfield LLC, said Zen Leaf Enfield will have more than adequate parking and will make substantial upgrades and improvements to the empty building, along with landscaping and repaving the parking areas.

Zen Leaf Enfield agreed to a number of conditions, including removal of the grease trap used by Outback Steakhouse.

Roberts said odor control will not be an issue at the dispensary because nothing will be grown on site, and water and waste use will be less than what the former restaurant generated.

The facility will have a commercial-grade HVAC unit for cleaner air.

Anthony Marsico, executive vice president of multistate cannabis operator Verano Holdings LLC, said Zen Leaf Enfield will have several tiers of protection and will not allow consumption of cannabis or loitering on site.

The facility will prioritize medical patients and products, he said, and all products will be kept in a secure vault.

Employees will undergo state and federal background checks, Marsico said.

There will be camera monitors throughout the facility and an alarm system will be on at all times, he said.

"This has been vacant space for several years," Marsico said. "It's a tired building and we will beautify the site."

He said the hybrid dispensary will offer 30 to 40 jobs, do outreach events for the town, and maintain an open line of communication with police.

To date, Marsico said, Verano Holdings operates two Connecticut dispensaries in Meriden and Waterbury. He invited PZC members and first responders to see those facilities any time.

Kermit Hua of KWH Enterprises LLC conducted an extensive traffic analysis on weekday mornings and afternoons as well as Saturdays. His findings show that there would not be a big jump in incremental traffic once the dispensary opens.

For more coverage of Somers and Enfield, follow Susan Danseyar on Twitter: @susandanseyar, Facebook: Susan Danseyar, reporter.