Siting Saugus Pot Shops – The town’s Marijuana Establishment Review Committee recommends two Route 1 locations for marijuana sales

By Mark E. Vogler

After five months of study on what are the best-suited locations for an adult use cannabis business in Saugus, the town’s Marijuana Establishment Review Committee recommended two companies from a field of seven that applied for consideration.

  Uma Flowers, 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. The site is considered ideal, as it is the farthest north on Route 1 near the Lynnfield line, and the farthest away from the Malden dispensary that is already open and operating. The site abuts conservation land, is already zoned appropriately and does not pose residential or school issues.

“The Respondent demonstrates a deep commitment, expertise, and passion for the cannabis retail industry,” the committee report noted in its conclusion remarks on Uma Flowers. “The Review Committee found this Respondent’s RFI (Request for Information) response, presentation, and site visit the strongest overall from start to finish. The Respondent also benefits from a good location and the ability to custom-build the dispensary from the ground-up. This Respondent appeared to be one of the strongest positioned to open, succeed, and provide minimal or manageable impact to the surrounding neighborhood.”

The committee also recommended that Sanctuary Medicinals, with a proposed location of 181 Broadway (Route 1 South) 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 Respondent’s proposed location is advantageous, and its extensive cannabis experience and current vertical integration business model are significant benefits,” the committee concluded in its analysis of Sanctuary Medicinals. “The Respondent appeared to be one of the strongest positioned to open, succeed, and provide minimal or manageable impact to the surrounding neighborhood.”

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.”

Committee members included 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.

The Review Committee spent more than 65 hours as a group – totaling more than 455 individual hours that entailed reviewing RFIs, conducting research, meeting the Respondents, performing site visits and listening to presentations. The committee also created a Respondent Evaluation Rubric, which ranked the respondents on five key categories: their response, business model, impact, location and direct experience.

  Triple M Ventures 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 and Lube car repair services. The proposed site is not able to support enough parking for the proposed dispensary. There are concerns about access off of Route 1. The site also abuts a residential neighborhood and is located very close to the Saugus Middle-High School.

On the plus side, the company operates two dispensaries in Massachusetts. The committee visited the Plymouth location and called the site visit “outstanding,” adding that it “showcased a professional and well-run operation.”

Conclusion: “The proposed location does not meet the Town’s zoning by-laws. In addition, the Respondent did not submit what was required in the RFI related to the planning, approvals, and time required to make the proposed premises at 1393 Broadway a viable site. However, the Review Committee found the Respondent’s retail cannabis business experience and operations were professional.”

  Olde World Remedies 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.

The site visit to the retail cannabis dispensary in Lynn raised some concerns with the professionalism of the operation, according to the committee. Poor ventilation seemed to be an issue, as the smell of marijuana product was strongly present.

Conclusion: “The Review Committee has serious concerns about the Respondent’s proposed Saugus location and the challenges present during the Lynn site visit.”

  Northeastcann 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. In addition, the current and future development of Essex Landing has already added significant traffic and roadway layout challenges, according to the committee.

Conclusion: “The lack of an open retail cannabis business and verifiable cannabis retail experience are a concern to the Review Committee. In addition, the proposed location presents negative impact concerns and challenges.”

  Bostica 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.

Conclusion: “The Respondent has no retail operational cannabis business experience. While the Respondent has substantial investor financing in the Lynn grow/cultivation facility and it seems promising, the lack of a proven track record and specific details about how its retail cannabis business would operate is a concern to the Review Committee. The Respondent lacked adequate and/or no direct experience in the industry of Adult Use Marijuana Retail Establishment dispensaries.”

  Broadway Cannabis 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.

Conclusion: “The Respondent’s proposed location is not ideal, and the Response was missing key pieces of information. The proposal was non-responsive to parts of the RFI. The Review Committee has serious concerns about whether this Respondent could successfully complete the buildout necessary to open a dispensary. Furthermore, the Respondent has no experience operating an Adult Use Marijuana Retail Establishment. The Respondent lacked adequate and/or no direct experience in the industry of Adult Use Marijuana Retail Establishment dispensaries.”