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Planning commission approves conditional use permit for Fort Greene marijuana retail store with conditions
Summary
The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Planning Commission voted to approve a conditional use permit for Fort Greene, Alaska to operate a marijuana retail store with a future drive-through at 7821 West Parks Highway, subject to conditions including vehicle protection for a nearby natural gas meter and completion of ADA and drainage work.
The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Planning Commission on May 5 approved Resolution 25-04, granting a conditional use permit to Fort Greene, Alaska to operate a marijuana retail facility at 7821 West Parks Highway.
The permit covers a commercial structure of approximately 1,237 square feet on a roughly 1-acre parcel in the Ralph Kilborn subdivision, within the Meadowlakes Community Council area. The approval includes a future drive-through window as part of the applicant’s plans.
Staff planner Rick Benedict told the commission that public notice was conducted under MSB 17.03 and that the application was evaluated against MSB 17.6 conditional-use standards. Benedict said the applicant had secured a marijuana retail license from the State of Alaska Marijuana Control Board in a delegated status pending planning approval, and that the proposed use is required by borough code to be no closer than 1,000 feet to school grounds. Benedict reported the closest schools, Little Hands Preschool and American Charter Academy, are about 2,200 feet from the site. He also said an approved plan review from the Alaska Fire Marshal indicates the structure will meet applicable state and Alaska fire codes.
Benedict reported site deficiencies observed during a staff visit on April 17: the required vehicle impact protection at a natural gas meter had not been installed, three proposed infiltration (drainage) areas were not yet constructed, and accessible parking spaces and access aisles did not meet ADA surfacing and signage standards. Based on those observations, staff recommended approval with eight conditions requiring corrections before operation or in phases tied to construction milestones.
Applicant Ryan McKay said the project team will install a protective cage around the gas meter, noting burying bollards in that location is not feasible because of existing gas lines. He said ADA parking and the drainage features are being completed and that the drive-through installation likely will be delayed until the safety measures are in place and before significant drive-through use begins. McKay said the team will provide photo documentation of completed infiltration areas to staff.
Commissioner Lynn McCabe moved to advance Resolution 25-04; Commissioner Kurt Scoggin seconded. With no discussion and no objections, the commission approved the resolution unanimously.
The resolution’s conditions require the applicant to install vehicle protection at the natural gas meter per fire marshal guidance, complete the drainage infiltration features and ADA-compliant accessible parking and signage, and otherwise comply with state Marijuana Control Board and applicable borough and fire-code requirements. Benedict noted the drive-through remains part of the permitted use but indicated practical steps tied to safety measures will determine its activation.
The planning commission record shows no written public comments and no responses from the Meadowlakes Community Council on the application.
