Planning commission approves adult‑use marijuana retailer at 918 Cesar E. Chavez with site‑plan conditions

The Pontiac Planning Commission approved a special exemption and preliminary site plan for an adult‑use marijuana retail facility at 918 Cesar E. Chavez Avenue (PSEP 25‑007; PSPR 25‑024) following a public hearing Tuesday night.

Why it matters: The city’s marijuana overlay and zoning regulations require special‑exception review for adult‑use marijuana retailers. The application by the property owner proposes reusing roughly 4,000 square feet of an existing masonry building in the Cesar Chavez corridor; the commission approved the use and advanced the project to final site‑plan review with conditions intended to address odor control, window transparency, lighting, landscaping and clarification of parcel/address issues.

Key points: Planning staff recommended approval with conditions that include an odor‑mitigation plan and site‑plan revisions to address lighting, window transparency, landscape details and mechanical screening. Ben Carlisle, the planning consultant, said the proposal meets the overlay and special‑exception standards and that the site is consistent with the corridor’s goal as a regional, auto‑oriented retail and mixed‑use area.

Applicant presentation: The applicant, Zade Adebu of ZA Design Build, told commissioners the owner plans to reface and reuse approximately 4,000 square feet of an existing masonry structure and that the remaining attached buildings on the wider parcel are not part of the retail operation as proposed. “We’re proposing to open up the adult retailer for the 4,000 square foot structure only with a lot of improvements to the building itself,” Adebu said. The applicant confirmed plans to combine lots where required and to return with additional site or building applications for other parcels.

Public comments and conditions: Several citizens urged careful review of parking, traffic and the relationship of the retail entrance to Cesar Chavez and nearby school locations. Planner Carlisle and the city attorney clarified that the special exception, if approved, would be tied to the specific building and site plan submitted; any expansion into adjacent portions of the combined parcel would require additional city approvals and state regulatory consent. The commission required additional site‑plan details before final approval, including a finalized landscape plan sealed by a landscape architect, a detailed lighting/photometric plan that matches elevations, a generator plan and an odor control plan.

Commission action: Commissioner McGinnis moved to approve PSEP 25‑007 with the staff‑recommended conditions; the motion passed unanimously. The commission also granted preliminary site‑plan approval (PSPR 25‑024) with conditions requiring the applicant to return with final site plans that include the additional details and to bring the final site plan back to the commission for review. Commissioners emphasized that the special exception applies to the specific 4,000‑square‑foot portion of the building shown on the approved site plan; use of adjacent spaces would require separate approvals.

Next steps: The applicant may submit final site‑plan documents addressing staff comments; final approvals and building permits must be secured before construction or occupancy. As with all licensed marijuana businesses, state licensing is required before retail sales.

Speakers quoted in this article are taken from the meeting transcript and attributed to listed speakers.