A Night of Seven Hearings

On Tuesday, selectmen will consider special permits for companies seeking to open recreational pot shops

By Mark E. Vogler

It will be just the latest step in a long process that will allow the sale of recreational marijuana in Saugus. The Board of Selectmen has scheduled a special meeting on Tuesday (Sept. 12) to consider applications from seven companies that are seeking a Special Permit (S-2) to open commercial pot establishments in town. The hearings are scheduled to run at 15-minute intervals, beginning at 6 p.m., in the second floor auditorium at Saugus Town Hall.

There is a potential for up to three permits being issued. But it will require approval by all four selectmen who will be presiding over each of the seven hearings. Selectman Jeff Cicolini recused himself from participating in the hearings because of a potential conflict of interest – one of the seven companies is a client of his accounting firm. Since S-2 permits require four-fifths’ approval by selectmen, any of the applicants will need the backing of the other four selectmen.

The town’s Marijuana Establishment Review Committee in July recommended just two companies be issued S-2 permits.

• Uma Flowers, LLC with a proposed location at 24 Broadway (Route 1 North) – the site of a former house that was torn down – was the unanimous selection of the seven-member committee, achieving a perfect score of 140 total points, based on an “exceptional” rating by each member in each of the five categories that were considered.
• Sanctuary Medicinals, with a proposed location of 181 Broadway (Route 1 South), also received a favorable recommendation to be issued a special permit for zoning by selectmen to locate at the site of the former 99 Restaurant. The business received a total of 118 points out of a possible 140.

The committee concluded that the other five companies that responded to an RFI earlier this year “did not meet the criteria necessary to earn a recommendation from the Review Committee at this time.” But Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano, who was involved in all of the community outreach meetings in which each business outlined their plans, said he doesn’t agree with the review committee’s findings and decided to call all seven applicants in for hearings.

The public is allowed to comment on each of the company presentations. Here are the hearing times scheduled for the Sept. 12 meeting to consider the S-2 permits:

Northeastcann – 6 p.m. This company finished fifth in the ranking with 32 points. The committee found the proposed site at 1529 Broadway, the current Avalon Motel, as “adequate.” But the committee was concerned about its proximity to existing cannabis retail businesses operating in Malden and Melrose. Access to the site is difficult, due to significant traffic congestion in the immediate area, which was another major concern.

Broadway Cannabis – 6:15 p.m. This company finished last in the ranking with 0 points. Its proposed location at 1268 Broadway, the site of the former Out of Asia restaurant, presents significant challenges, according to the committee. The site is located close to residences and there are access issues. There are existing cannabis businesses already open and operating nearby in Malden and Melrose.

Bostica, LLC – 6:30 p.m. This company finished sixth in the ranking with 25 points. The proposed site at 44 Broadway, the site of the former Donatello Ristorante and Oye’s Restaurant, raised some concerns for the committee, particularly its close proximity to local residences.

Uma Flowers, LLC – 6:45 p.m. This company received a perfect score and was the committee’s top choice.

Sanctuary Medicinals – 7 p.m. This company finished second in the ranking with 118 points out of a possible 140 and was the only other business recommended for an S-2 permit.

Olde World Remedies – 7:15 p.m. This company finished fourth in the ranking with 35 points. The committee noted in its report that the proposed location at 173 Main St. – a current exotic car dealership – “presents several challenges.” The location is within view of the Saugus Middle-High School. Access to the site has a Main Street off-ramp curb cut.

Triple M Ventures – 7:30 p.m. This company finished third in the ranking, with 92 points. The committee expressed major concerns about the proposed dispensary site at 1393 Broadway, the current home of All Tune & Lube car repair services. The committee didn’t think the site had adequate parking and also posed access problems off of Route 1.

The Marijuana Establishment Review Committee members are Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree, Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli, Fire Chief Michael Newbury, Director of Public Health John R. Fralick III, Procurement Director Michele Wendell, Vice Chair of the Saugus Planning Board Jeanette Meredith and Building Commissioner Michael LaVecchia.