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Council advances zoning change moving retail marijuana sales zone north along Bald Hill Road (first passage)
Summary
Councilors approved first passage of an amendment to expand areas along Bald Hill Road where retail marijuana sales are allowed; the change would extend the allowed area north to the West Natick Road intersection to provide an eligible site for a petitioner who has property under contract.
The council granted first‑passage approval to PCO 2‑25, a zoning amendment to expand the geographic area along Bald Hill Road where retail sales of marijuana and related products may occur in the General Business zone. Attorney Joseph Brennan, representing Thousand Lakes LLC, told the council the request would extend the allowed retail zone north about three quarters of a mile to include the West Natick Road intersection and give a potential applicant an opportunity to apply for a state marijuana retail license if the state lottery awards one.
The petitioner explained state law limits marijuana retail outlets to a minimum spacing (no more than one facility per mile in some cases) and requires a 1,000‑foot buffer from school properties; those constraints constrain available sites. One resident, Ian Sheridan, spoke against additional marijuana retail outlets in the city, saying no further shops were needed along Route 2.
Council members who supported the change said concentrating retail marijuana use in commercial corridors like Bald Hill Road is preferable to broader dispersal through residential areas and is consistent with prior council direction.
Ending: The ordinance received first passage; further public hearings and state licensing remain necessary before any retail operation can open.
