Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Selectmen on Monday broached talk of a marijuana overlay district to be located in South Uxbridge, but refrained from taking action until draft regulations are released by the state Cannabis Control Commission in December.
Final regulations are due out in March and licenses would start to be distributed in June 2018.
According to guidance issued by regional planning organizations, towns would need to address both general town bylaws, to regulate local operations, and zoning bylaws, to regulate location of recreational marijuana establishments.
Under the state law's definition, marijuana establishments include retail operations, manufacturers of marijuana products, cultivators and processors, and testing facilities.
"I'm totally against the retail establishments," Selectman Jennifer Modica said.
Selectmen this fall signed a letter of non-opposition and a host community benefit agreement with Xiphias Wellness Inc. to locate a cultivation facility in a 20,000-square-foot building at 1045 Quaker Highway.
Steven J. Croteau, director and treasurer of Xiphias Wellness, said the agreement with the town concerns growing marijuana for medical use. However, although they have no plans to seek approval for adult-use, or recreational, marijuana for at least the next few years, company officials could come back to selectmen to request a new agreement if they wanted to expand their market.
Selectman Justin Piccirillo, who chairs the board, recommended that selectmen consider a marijuana overlay district to include roughly Quaker Highway/Route 146A from Chocolog Road to the Rhode Island state line, as well as the South Uxbridge industrial park and River Road, which connects to the industrial park.
Selectmen also planned to consider whether to propose a 3 percent local sales tax on marijuana establishments.
Proposed general and zoning bylaw amendments and local tax options for recreational marijuana would be voted on at town meeting.
In other business, Ms. Modica reported that the Town Manager Review Committee was preparing to recommend to selectmen three finalists from among the 13 applications reviewed by the committee.
Selectmen plan to meet at 7:30 a.m. next Monday to review the committee's recommendations.
The board highlighted key categories on which it hopes to rank finalists, including skills in management, finances, law, communication, problem solving and interest in the position. Mr. Piccirillo asked for public input on other criteria deemed important.
Also at the meeting, selectmen voted to approve signing the closing documents for a land development agreement with Uxbridge Housing Associates for redevelopment of the former Virginia A. Blanchard School for affordable and veterans' housing.
The 25 apartments are expected to be ready for occupancy in March 2019, according to Harry Romasco of Uxbridge Housing Associates and president of Virginia Blanchard Memorial Housing.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: South Uxbridge proposed to be zoned for marijuana establishments - News - telegram.com - Worcester, MA
Author: Susan Spencer
Contact: Contact - Worcester, MA - telegram.com
Photo Credit: Scott Lentz
Website: telegram.com: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Worcester, MA
Final regulations are due out in March and licenses would start to be distributed in June 2018.
According to guidance issued by regional planning organizations, towns would need to address both general town bylaws, to regulate local operations, and zoning bylaws, to regulate location of recreational marijuana establishments.
Under the state law's definition, marijuana establishments include retail operations, manufacturers of marijuana products, cultivators and processors, and testing facilities.
"I'm totally against the retail establishments," Selectman Jennifer Modica said.
Selectmen this fall signed a letter of non-opposition and a host community benefit agreement with Xiphias Wellness Inc. to locate a cultivation facility in a 20,000-square-foot building at 1045 Quaker Highway.
Steven J. Croteau, director and treasurer of Xiphias Wellness, said the agreement with the town concerns growing marijuana for medical use. However, although they have no plans to seek approval for adult-use, or recreational, marijuana for at least the next few years, company officials could come back to selectmen to request a new agreement if they wanted to expand their market.
Selectman Justin Piccirillo, who chairs the board, recommended that selectmen consider a marijuana overlay district to include roughly Quaker Highway/Route 146A from Chocolog Road to the Rhode Island state line, as well as the South Uxbridge industrial park and River Road, which connects to the industrial park.
Selectmen also planned to consider whether to propose a 3 percent local sales tax on marijuana establishments.
Proposed general and zoning bylaw amendments and local tax options for recreational marijuana would be voted on at town meeting.
In other business, Ms. Modica reported that the Town Manager Review Committee was preparing to recommend to selectmen three finalists from among the 13 applications reviewed by the committee.
Selectmen plan to meet at 7:30 a.m. next Monday to review the committee's recommendations.
The board highlighted key categories on which it hopes to rank finalists, including skills in management, finances, law, communication, problem solving and interest in the position. Mr. Piccirillo asked for public input on other criteria deemed important.
Also at the meeting, selectmen voted to approve signing the closing documents for a land development agreement with Uxbridge Housing Associates for redevelopment of the former Virginia A. Blanchard School for affordable and veterans' housing.
The 25 apartments are expected to be ready for occupancy in March 2019, according to Harry Romasco of Uxbridge Housing Associates and president of Virginia Blanchard Memorial Housing.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: South Uxbridge proposed to be zoned for marijuana establishments - News - telegram.com - Worcester, MA
Author: Susan Spencer
Contact: Contact - Worcester, MA - telegram.com
Photo Credit: Scott Lentz
Website: telegram.com: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Worcester, MA
