Union Chill Cannabis opening getting closer to reality. What to know
Cannabis dispensary Union Chill Cannabis recently moved a step closer to opening at the former Leader building on West Pulteney Street.
Owner Josh Canfield, who also owns Next Level Wellness, a CBD shop in Hornell, said Union Chill has received final approval for the project from the Corning Planning Commission.
“The next step is getting our construction plans finalized and working with city Code Enforcement Supervisor Steve McDaniel on getting those plans approved,” Canfield said. “Hopefully by the end of February we will get all those plans approved and start the buildout.”
Canfield said the first thing Union Chill is going to be focused on is getting their fulfillment area, the delivery distribution services, built out and up and running to service people in the City of Corning and the surrounding areas.
“The delivery service is going to be in the back of our building,” Canfield said. “The building is surrounded by parking lots which is one of the great assets we love about the building. I’m not sure exactly on the timeline, but it shouldn’t be too bad, then it is working with the state to get approved, and inspection done and then our temporary delivery approved by the state.”
The delivery approval goes into the state application phase submitted and getting our post applications finalized.
“That's what we're working on right now,” Canfield said. “Hopefully in the next six to eight weeks we will have that approval.”
Local leaders weigh in on cannabis dispensary plans
Corning Mayor Bill Boland, a Democrat, said when a legal business like Union Chill Cannabis puts money into a building, and puts money into it for improvements, that investment is a good thing for the city.
“After a long and convoluted process, involving years of action at the state level, and over a year of consideration of all views at our city level, the matter of a cannabis dispensary at the old “Leader” building site is settled,” Boland said. ‘Now it’s time to move on. It’s my expectation that the licensee will make significant improvements to the site and run a tightly regulated, well managed business, not so much different than a liquor store.”
Corning City Councilperson Betty Coccho, D-6, said she is not pleased with the whole situation of a cannabis dispensary opening in the city ward she represents.
“But I think that if the regulations are set in place, I feel that it probably won't be as detrimental to the neighborhood as some people think it will be,” Coccho said. “It's here whether we want it to be or not, so we don’t have any choice.”
For additional information on the Office of Cannabis Management adult-use regulations, go to cannabis.ny.gov/marihuana-regulation-and-taxation-act-mrta.
Retail site at Union Chill: When it will open for customers
“Once we’re done with the delivery distribution service build out, approved, then we will start working on the retail build out,” Canfield said. “Hopefully if all goes as planned, the distribution will open in the early spring and the retail section will be completed and open late spring, early summer.”
Canfield said the delivery distribution will be online purchase and pay only, everything will be done online.
“Once a sale is made online it comes into our system, we will have the list or orders and they’ll be able to be delivered to the owner,” Canfield said. “The identification of the person purchasing will be checked by the delivery to complete the purchase.”
Canfield said people will not be able to come and purchase at Union Chill until the retail section is completely open, hopefully in the late spring or early summer months.
“We're happy that we're finally working along with the city, and we have the project in and very excited to get up and running in Corning,” Canfield said.
This article originally appeared on The Leader: Corning cannabis dispensary update: When customers can start shopping
