The Hartford Planning and Zoning Commission approved one special permit for an adult-use cannabis dispensary Tuesday.
But a separate dispensary planned for downtown Hartford on Arch Street could be in trouble.
The city’s assistant corporation counsel Richard Vassallo wrote in a memo to the Planning and Zoning Commission that the group does not have authority over a proposal to open a dispensary at 89 Arch St., formerly home to Blind Pig Pizza.
Instead, the Capital Region Development Authority, which said it opposes a dispensary at the site, has zoning authority over the property.
Derrick Gibbs, CEO of Middletown-based homecare and behavioral health provider Change Incorporated, had requested a special permit from the Planning and Zoning Commission to open an adult-use cannabis dispensary at the property. City staff had previously recommended the application for approval before the CRDA argued it had jurisdiction over the parcel because it is within the Adriaen’s Landing development district. The city’s lawyers agree with that assessment.
“While CRDA correctly states that it is the controlling authority with respect to properties within the Adriaen’s Landing site, including the subsequently added Arch Street Tavern parcel, its representation as to the 89 Arch St. parcel located adjacent to the Arch Street Tavern parcel, being part of the Adriaen’s Landing site was a struggle to verify mostly due to seeming unavailability of documents,” Vassallo wrote.
But ultimately, CRDA provided the city with a survey drawing from 2000 and the master development and remedial action plans for the area. Vassallo said his opinion was that 89 Arch St. falls within Adriaen’s Landing and was thus not in the PZC’s purview.
The CRDA has maintained its position that the group’s “statutory mission includes the creation of family-friendly entertainment within the Front Street District” and a cannabis dispensary doesn’t align with that goal.
Gibbs wasn’t immediately available for comment.
Meanwhile, the PZC on Tuesday approved a cannabis dispensary planned on the same lot as Parkville Market. The group approved a special permit for Kevin Henry to open an adult-use cannabis dispensary at 1396 Park St.
Evelyne St-Louis, a senior planner for the city, wrote in a memo that city staff recommended the application for approval under three conditions: the business give city officials notice at least 30 days before opening; the applicant submit more plans regarding parking arrangements and changes to the exterior of the building; and at least three employees monitor traffic during the initial weeks of operation.
Commission Member David McKinley commended both Henry and city staff for working together to answer all questions and concerns about the application.
“I’m excited to be a part of the approval and very happy to support it,” McKinley said.
In other cannabis-related items on Tuesday’s agenda, the city received a special permit application from Rita Castucci of Southend Harvest House LLC to open a micro cultivator business at 722 Wethersfield Ave.
The public hearing for that proposal is expected to open Aug. 23.