The Pontiac Planning Commission on Oct. 1 approved a special-exception permit for an adult-use cannabis retail store at 41 East Walton Boulevard and granted preliminary site-plan approval, while requiring the applicant to return for final site-plan review once outstanding technical items are resolved.

Michael Betcher, senior planner, told commissioners the building is an existing roughly 3,200-square-foot structure within the Walton Boulevard adult-use marijuana overlay and that staff found the special-exception standards were met. Staff recommended approval with conditions and noted some site-plan items — building elevations, photometrics, an odor-management plan and roof screening — must be completed prior to final approval.

Attorney Craig Aronoff, representing the applicant, said the interior build-out is complete and that the business could be operational “by the end of the year” once municipal and state approvals are finished. Eric Clark, representing Shine Cannabis, outlined community-benefit commitments including hiring locally and donations to nonprofits such as Share Detroit.

Commissioners and residents discussed transparency and storefront design: city rules for Walton Boulevard require a 65% transparency on street-facing facades while state licensing and security practices commonly limit storefront visibility. Commissioners noted the conflict and said the preliminary approval should explicitly require the outstanding elements so the final site plan can be reviewed by the commission. Harang and Betcher also asked for an odor-management plan and photometric (lighting) plan. The commission added a requirement that the applicant return for final site-plan approval to allow a civic review of those items.

Commissioner Duval moved to approve the special exception; Commissioner McGinnis supported. The roll-call vote was unanimous in favor (Shepherd: yes; McGinnis: yes; Duval: yes; Vice Chair Jackson: yes; Chair Sinclair: yes). The later preliminary site-plan motion was moved by Commissioner McGuinness with support from Commissioner Duval; that motion also carried with all members voting yes. Staff listed eight site-plan items that must be addressed in the next submission, including elevation drawings, photometric plans, landscaping details and an odor-management plan.

The applicant told the commission it would resubmit the required materials and that the City Clerk and planning staff would coordinate state and municipal review of social-equity and community-benefit commitments. The commission emphasized that final site-plan approval must demonstrate compliance with the city’s Walton Boulevard standards as well as odor and lighting controls.