Two marijuana dispensaries — one new, the other exisiting — were topics for discussion at the Martha’s Vineyard Commission late last week.
The commission opened a public hearing on Main Street Medicinals, which plans to operate out of a former auto repair shop at 65 Mechanic’s street off State Road in Vineyard Haven.
If approved, it will be the second dispensary on the street, located near Island Time at 15 Mechanic’s street.
Main street Medicinals wants to build a roughly 7,500-square-foot building that will include retail space as well as growing and testing areas. The store would serve customers on a walk-in basis.
The business is owned by Noah Eisendrath in partnership with Joshua Silver, who heads Silver Therapeutics in Williamstown.
“We love this project because we get to grow something on the Island, we get to sell on the Island,” Mr. Silver told commissioners. “It’s something that we believe in dearly.”
Main Street owners have already signed an agreement with the town of Tisbury that stipulates an annual report to the town select board, working with the police department to prevent products from being sold second-hand to underage users, a series of tax payments and having a community outreach meeting prior to beginning sales.
The business owners have also signed a nonbinding letter of intent to lease a four-bedroom house in Vineyard Haven to provide year-round housing for to up to eight of 21 employees. If that plan falls through, owners have committed to contributing $20,000 per year to the Dukes County Regional Housing Authority.
Traffic was a main point of discussion. A study commissioned by Main Street concluded that the business would not have a significant impact on the Mechanic street-State Road intersection. But another study commissioned by the Tisbury planning board found the business would negatively affect traffic in the area.
Main Street has proposed adding an exit driveway on the east and widen the street on the north. The business has a 20-foot wide easement to widen the street, Mr. Silver said.
“We’ve also gone to each of the property owners who also have an interest in Mechanic street and said hey, we want to make your road a little nicer, and they’ve been totally supportive,’” he said.
Commissioner Ben Robinson, who is also on the Tisbury planning board, said his board wants to hold off on the driveway portion of the proposal but has the power to enforce it if necessary or fold it into a broader master plan for the town.
Commissioner Greg Martino applauded the planning board for its thorough review.
“I think they’ve elevated this project to help the town significantly,” Mr. Martino said. “I think they’ve vetted this project and really have done a fantastic job.”
The hearing was continued to May 12.
Also Thursday commissioners took up two modification requests from the Fine Fettle marijuana dispensary in West Tisbury.
The first was for a change in growing methods at the Fine Fettle grow facility to align with a 2020 change in state regulations. Commissioners voted to allow the modification without a public hearing.
The second request was to permit the retail shop to allow walk-in customers. Commissioners voted to require a public hearing for the modification but set no date.
“When this was before us originally, we had multiple members of the public who testified about it. They testified rather passionately about it,” commissioner Doug Sederholm said. “I think we ought to give the public an opportunity to discuss it.”
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