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Board of Appeals approves first Wicomico cannabis dispensary special exception; conditions set
Summary
The Wicomico County Board of Appeals granted a special exception to DMV Exclusives LLC to operate a cannabis dispensary at 9156 North Ocean Highway (case WA2506), subject to conditions including licensing, hours of operation, and limits on signage.
The Wicomico County Board of Appeals approved a special-exception permit for a cannabis dispensary requested by DMV Exclusives LLC for property at 9156 North Ocean Highway (case WA2506).
Clark Meadows, the county’s zoning administrator, presented the staff report and exhibits and recommended approval with conditions. Meadows said the 3-acre parcel fronts the southbound lanes of Route 13, is improved with two pre-engineered commercial buildings (each described as about 12,000 square feet in staff materials), and has long-standing highway-commercial uses. The site is inside the C-2 General Commercial zoning district, and staff concluded the proposed adaptive reuse would not require new land development and is consistent with the county comprehensive plan and the zoning district’s purposes. Meadows recommended approval subject to conditions.
Applicant Candace Peters described operational plans: retail hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week; on-site inventory to be stored in a secure vault under 24-hour surveillance in compliance with Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) regulations; and plans to address parking, access and stabilization of unpaved areas. The proposed signage conditions in staff materials limited freestanding signs to one at a maximum of 100 square feet and wall signage to one at a maximum of 60 square feet.
The board approved the request after a motion to adopt staff recommendations. Board member David Ennis moved to approve and Michael Hoy seconded; the chair recorded the motion as passed and voted aye. The chair and board also approved a minor amendment to correct the zoning district text in the staff report to C-2 prior to final action.
The approval includes the staff’s suggested conditions: the special exception must be exercised within one year of issuance; development must follow the submitted site plan; the operator must maintain MCA licenses; signage limits and hours as stated; and compliance with county building permits and codes. The board noted that failure to comply with conditions may render the approval null and void. Peters was instructed that MCA approvals and building permits remain required before opening; she estimated a timeline of up to 12 months to complete state approvals and other preparations.
No public opposition speakers were recorded during the portion of the transcript reviewed.
