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Main Road pot plan meets resistance in Westport

Neighbors unhappy; selectmen call for details

By Bruce Burdett
Posted 6/5/20

WESTPORT — A would-be marijuana grower, processor, seller and transporter failed last week to get the early boost he had sought from selectmen for his plan to set up shop on Main Road at the …

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Main Road pot plan meets resistance in Westport

Neighbors unhappy; selectmen call for details

Posted

WESTPORT — A would-be marijuana grower, processor, seller and transporter failed last week to get the early boost he had sought from selectmen for his plan to set up shop on Main Road at the south end of Central Village.
And he heard that, even before any details have been spelled out, neighbors take a dim view of the project — all who spoke at the board’s remote meeting Tuesday said this is a bad location for such a venture.

Acushnet attorney Nicholas Gomes delivered a long, illustrated presentation that described plans for Tree Beard Inc., the company of which he is chief legal counsel, to launch Old Soul Gardens, a ‘recreational craft cannabis establishment’ on three acres at 1104 Main Road a short distance south of Hixbridge Road.

He told selectmen that his firm is based in New Bedford and has already received state and city licenses to open up its first cannabis facility there.
The Westport location his firm has selected is ideal for what they have in mind, he said, and was “chosen for its rural charm” in the town’s “craft belt” which already is home to a winery and brewery. He added that it has the added benefits of being close to the police and fire stations and to the easy access provided by Route 88.

We are focused on the future of cannabis,” Mr. Gomes said. “This is not going to be a Cheech and Chong joke of an establishment.”

His company’s cultivator, he said, is an award winner at the Commonwealth Cannabis Competition, taking top prizes for extract concoctions such as “Banana Cream Live Rosin,” “Grape Stawnana,” and “Big Smooth.”
The facility will look like a typical commercial building — “no banners, nobody walking around in any sort of costume — as close to a medical model as possible.”

He said this would be a safe establishment, with cameras, vaults, controlled entry and daytime security staff as dictated by state rules.
Without getting into specifics, Mr. Gomes said traffic impact would be minimal, and odor, runoff and waste would be dealt with.

Partnering with a small company like his, he said, is “an opportunity for Westport to grab a large portion of this early market where the large conglomerates are unable to grab.”
Westport’s share would be 3 percent of gross proceeds, the maximum allowed by the state, Mr. Gomes said.

We hope to become a statewide company from a humble three acres in Westport.”

Host agreement

First, though, he said he needs the Board of Selectmen to approve a Host Community Agreement, as he said New Bedford did, which will help move state licensing applications along and without which the investment might not be feasible.
That was a source of confusion and a problem for some on the board who asked why this hadn’t first been heard by town boards such as planning, zoning and conservation commission. Chairwoman Shana Shufelt said she understands that the site “has some significant environmental issues ... it was a former service station. What are your plans for dealing with the environmental concerns there?”
Once they have the Host Community Agreement they “can deal with the small details such as environmental,” Mr. Gomes said. Pressed on that, he said they would certainly do as the state requires and transform the property from unusable to a community asset.
“This is a Brownfields site,” board member Brian Valcourt said. By law, whether this is used for business or residence, any owner would have to clean up a problem that has existed for 40 years.
“I have a lot of concerns,” said board member Steven Ouellette, about approving the agreement before details are spelled out — “Mostly because we will go to (state Business Regulation) and say we want this ... I am not just picking on him — we need details.”
“Most of the general public did not have a clue that this was coming up,” he added.
That is an issue, Ms. Shufelt agreed — due to a meeting posting error in the town clerk’s office. “With all due respect sir, you are giving your opinion. I want the town’s opinion,” Mr. Ouellette said.

Neighbors object

Neighbors were quick to join the conversation when given the chance via computer or phone. Mike Fernandes said he lives across the street and fears for the safety of the neigborhood’s young children, including his own, ages 2 and 4, given the likely increase in traffic.

The proposal “has kind of been sliding under the radar but I can tell you that” the neighbors I have spoken to “are all opposed to it.”
“As much as you say it’s a nice thing, take it to Route 6.”
Westport Police patrolman Kyle Fernandes (no relation) also lives nearby and said traffic and parking are among the issues that concern him.

Calling it a “sneaky thing,” he said there is “sure not any place for it in the south end of town.”

You keep comparing us to New Bedford,” a woman caller said. “We are nothing like New Bedford. We are a small town (and) don’t want to live in fear.”
And another called the traffic brought by marijuana buyers a threat to those who like to walk along the road that has no sidewalks.

Details needed

Selectman Richard Brewer said that while a host agreement may be “perfectly proper to move it along,” he is not comfortable approving such an agreement “because it gives the appearance that we are making a decision without full public disclosures” from the other boards and commissions that have not yet weighed in.

Mr. Valcourt agreed, calling it “extremely odd” that we were asked to approve a host agreement without any background information.
But he also took issue with some of the objections, saying that this property is commercially zoned and is located with a quarter mile of four places where people can purchase alcohol. And, “I just am incredibly offended, having grown up on Route 6 (which) has twice as many children as anywhere else in town, that it is perfectly fine to shove this up to Route 6 but don’t put it near us.”

Ms. Shufelt suggested that Mr. Gomes arrange the community meeting that he said he intends, and that selectmen can “perhaps regroup” several meetings from now for further discussion. Mr. Gomes agreed to do so.

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