ZBA Hearings for Medical Marijuana Dispensary Proposals in Davis Square

[lancedavisward6.livejournal.com]

(EDIT 1-30-17: BOTH dispensary applications have been continued to the Februrary 15th ZBA meeting)

Update on medical marijuana dispensary proposals for Davis Square (one would be in the Family Dollar site, the other would be on the basement level of the bfresh building):

BOTH proposals are scheduled to be heard by the Zoning Board of Appeals on Wednesday, February 1, 6:00 at City Hall (Aldermanic Chambers), though stay tuned because there’s a chance one or both will be continued to a later meeting date.  These are Public Hearings so anyone wishing to speak in favor of, or opposition to, either proposal (details below, with links to all plans) will have that opportunity.

Note that the Garden Remedies applicant (Family Dollar site) submitted a plan that is slightly revised from the one that they presented at the neighborhood meeting (see the links under 245 Elm St. below). The key difference is that there is only a double door on the street-front, as opposed to taking up half of the street-front. I'm told that this is consistent with the "original" plan that they submitted to the city when they first applied for a letter of non-opposition.  However, this may or may not address people's concerns as the proposal still occupies the bulk of the overall space, leaving only a smaller space (1228 sq. ft.) for a subtenant in this key location.

240 Elm Street, Ward 6: Applicant, Sage Cannabis, Inc., and Owner, Davis Square Realty Ventures Nominee Trust, seek a Special Permit under SZO §7.15 and §9.13 to establish a Medical Marijuana Facility in the basement of the building. CBD Zone and Medical Marijuana Overlay District.

Basement plan:
http://archive.somervillema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Basement%20Plan%2011%2003%2016.pdf

Traffic Memo:
http://archive.somervillema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Traffic%20Memo%2011-15-16.pdf

Signs:
http://archive.somervillema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/161230%20SAGE_Signage%20240%20Elm%20St.pdf

(Draft) Planning Staff Report: http://archive.somervillema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/rnd/Elm%20St%20240%20Staff%20Report.pdf


245 Elm Street, Ward 6: Applicant, Garden Remedies, Inc., and Owners, Dana Family Realty Trust and RMD, Sr. Realty Trust, seek a Special Permit under SZO §7.15 to establish a Medical Marijuana Facility in the ground level and basement of the building. CBD Zone and Medical Marijuana Overlay District.

Floor plans and elevations:
http://archive.somervillema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Floor%20Plans%20and%20Elevations.pdf

Transportation Memo:
http://archive.somervillema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Transportation_Memo_HSH_2017-1-09.pdf

Photo Simulations: http://archive.somervillema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Photo%20Sims.pdf

(Draft) Planning Staff Report: http://archive.somervillema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/rnd/Elm%20St%20245%20Staff%20Report_0.pdf

Comments

[keithn.livejournal.com]

I would be absolutely amazed if either of these were approved. The city is highly resistant to even granting new liquor licenses in Davis Square, and it took Tenoch of all places months of dealing with red tape and resistance from people who resist new things literally as a hobby. I 100% expect that either of these establishments would seek to become a distributor to the general public once selling for non-medical purposes is legal next year. I expect these proposals to fly like a lead balloon.

That said, I would support at least one of them. My biggest complaint is that the blanked out windows of Garden Remedies gives the vibe of an adult video store. I would hope there's a better design that the one presented.

[ron_newman]

I fully support the proposal for 240 Elm Street, as it would be unobtrusive by being fully below street level. I'd support the other one (Family Dollar) only if they can make their first-floor square footage considerably smaller, and the subtenant square footage correspondingly larger.

[kelkyag]

What if they put unrelated displays in their window space, like the Inside Out Gallery?

[ron_newman]

That would be nice, but I'd still like to see a real tenant besides the dispensary, with enough space to be a viable and separate business.

[teko.livejournal.com]

A lot of the resistance against Tenoch came from their next-door neighbors, and I found a lot of the arguments they presented to be borderline offensive. The city seems to be in support of these facilities but a lot will depend on how Meju and The Burren feel about having a marijuana dispensary as a neighbor. As Ron says, the 240 Elm location is unobtrusive enough that I imagine it'll have the least resistance. You're correct that Garden Remedies will almost certainly become a recreational retail store once that's allowed -- I think that's part of the plan they've presented.