South Windsor to have public hearing on cannabis moratorium
Aug. 13—SOUTH WINDSOR — The town's Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on Tuesday to discuss the proposed zone change for retail cannabis shops.
A one-year moratorium on retail cannabis establishments went into effect on Dec. 6, 2021, to give the PZC time to decide how to regulate where cannabis retailers should operate.
The new proposed zone change would remove the ban on cannabis stores and establish regulations for certain facilities.
It would permit hybrid-use marijuana dispensary facilities by special exception in a general commercial zone, and allow cannabis production facilities in the industrial zone by site plan.
Only one hybrid-use facility can be allowed in the town under state law, based on the town's population.
Under the proposed zone change, it won't be allowed within 500 feet of a town building, public park, recreation area, adult or child day care center, treatment center, or place of worship. Additionally, it must be 1,000 feet away from any nursery. kindergarten, elementary or secondary school, college, or university.
The public hearing on the matter opened on April 26. Comments were taken into consideration and a revised draft of the proposal was submitted.
At the April 26 meeting, Peter DeMallie of Design Professionals spoke on behalf of Wellflowers Farm, which is owned by Bruce Snow and Bernard Thomas.
They said that they support the zone change, but wanted to propose a modification that would allow them to build a greenhouse on the farm.
Most of the commissioners said they were in favor of the proposed change, but some have concerns.
PZC member Michael LeBlanc noted that he was concerned about security at a greenhouse.
Snow said that the greenhouse design would include an 8-foot chain-link fence and 24-hour security cameras.
Board Secretary Stephen Wagner asked if the lighting would affect neighboring properties. DeMallie suggested that the greenhouse be far away from other properties and that they have a specific kind of shade used for this type of farming.
Based on the discussion and other comments, the new draft would permit the growing of cannabis for medical or recreational adult use in a state-licensed and secure micro-cultivator greenhouse by special exception in the rural residential zone.
It also notes that such facility can only be built on a farm with a minimum of 50 acres and must be 400 feet from a public school, 200 feet from a property line, and 200 feet from any dwelling, and comply with Dark Sky lighting standards.
The public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
Collin covers East Windsor and Windsor Locks for the Journal Inquirer.
