Pittsfield ZBA OKs North Street Dispensary
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Zoning Board of Appeals has approved a cannabis dispensary in the former Pittsfield Health Food Centre on North Street.
The board supported a special permit for Cloud Nine Visions LLC to operate at 407 North St. at its August meeting. The application was continued in July for further community outreach, and two meetings were held in the meantime.
"A lot of the senior citizens that live up in these apartment buildings, most of them do not have cars, so they don't have the option of driving to some of these other dispensaries," said property owner Eric Baumert, who operated the health store for decades.
"… So they're at the disadvantage of not being able to visit a dispensary without somebody helping them drive there or pick something up, and I don't know what the logistics of that are. In the last month, though, I've gotten over 150 signatures from downtown residents that approve of the dispensary, and over 12 signatures from businesses in the area."
Cloud Nine Visions plans to open a retail cannabis establishment in the 1,800-square-foot storefront on a primary downtown street within the Downtown Creative District.
The business must frost its windows; a special permit from the Community Development Board to waive transparency requirements was granted with conditions in July.
At the last hearing, there were concerns that a cannabis dispensary didn't fit within the character of the area. Jeremy Thompson, partner to principal Sedale Jones, explained that they held two meetings with Downtown Pittsfield Inc. since the vote was continued.
One person showed up for the first meeting, and another was scheduled with Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham and Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi.
"I believe both meetings went well," Thompson said.
"… As far as we're concerned, we did everything we needed to do. I think we ended the meetings through conversations very well, and everything that was asked as far as questions, we were able to pinpoint, so everybody left in a good agreement."
DPI Managing Director Rebecca Brien, clarifying that the organization is neutral, said Cloud Nine Visions was "very professional, responsive, and more than willing to meet with our members, answer questions, and discuss their proposed business."
DPI emailed members with information about the proposal, and responses reflected a range of perspectives, she said.
"There is support noted that Cloud Nine will obviously fill a vacant storefront and bring additional customers to our downtown. Some viewed a licensed, professionally operated business as a positive addition to North Street, and a representative, actually from another dispensary in Pittsfield, shared information about the regulated cannabis industry and addressed some of the common misconceptions for our members surrounding the legalized marijuana," she reported.
"Those with concerns focused mainly, of course, on its proposed location, and there were questions raised of young people traveling through the area, although obviously they are outside the 500 yards [from schools, daycares] that is required. That our neighborhood already has some existing challenges in how this may affect it, and whether this business would fit with the ongoing downtown revitalization that its efforts that are being done."
DPI does not take a position on the application, as its role was to provide information, invite feedback, and connect members with the potential new neighbor.
ZBA member Tom Goggins voted against the special permit because he feels there is an "awful lot" of minors who frequent the area.
Chair Albert Ingegni III cautioned that they have to make a decision on actual findings, not feelings, and that Cloud Nine Visions has met requirements. The state Cannabis Control Commission oversees dispensaries.
"It is an allowed use in the downtown district, so it's concerning if this were to be denied based on feelings," he said.
"Is it the best spot for this? I don't know that, but it's also not my business. I think that people make business decisions, and they live with them. I think that I also am concerned that there's still a stigma associated with marijuana that has not played out in other dispensaries across the county."
Fellow member John Fitzgerald said people falsely classify cannabis facilities as "a drug place," and that kids won't be walking by the nondescript business without a guardian.
A few residents spoke against the business' location on that part of North Street.
Lisa Powers, of the nearby Maplewood Association Trust luxury apartments, said Pittsfield was called the "Brooklyn of the Berkshires" by the Financial Times in 2010 when she bought here and "had it all," such as theaters and the hospital within walking distance.
"What could possibly ruin this picture? The mental health, drug, and homeless crisis that's going unmanaged and unchecked. People have accused this administration of being cruel and unfeeling, and trying to move the drug situation off the main streets to facilities where people can get help and attention they need, and thought it best to leave them on the streets," Powers said.
"They frighten our people. They frighten our residents. They frighten the people that work and own businesses here. We are taxpayers, and we have paid taxes to redesign the main street, to plant flowers, to plant trees, to bury power lines, and to make it a beautiful place to walk, shop, eat, and enjoy the beauty of the Berkshires. But instead of walking and enjoying what I had hoped for, I now have to drive, park, and walk briskly to my car for fear of all of the things that go on North Street."
She described "crazy, half-naked people screaming at invisible people, walking by groups of people whose odor hits you a block before you pass," in that area, and said if this were to be approved, nobody would rent a store, open another business, or take a walk on that block.
"Approving this business will add to the depressing scene that is North Street, and will surely put a final nail in the coffin for its survival," she said.
Baumert responded that unhoused people have nothing to do with this application, and dispensaries are "very respectful," with people making their purchases and going home.
There was some discussion about an area inside of the door for the first identification check that allows people of age to enter the business. He said that could be arranged, if needed.
Thompson pointed out that there are also liquor stores and a clinic for drug users in the area, and asked the board to consider the business for what it is.
"I have a diploma in cannabis, so I went to school for this, and I'm educated. My last paper in school was kids with epilepsy and CBD and how it helps them. So it's also medicine, and that's the part that people don't understand," he said.
"As far as being educated on it, it helps people. It helps people with cancer. It's a long list."
Tags: ZBA, cannabis,
