Pontiac commission upholds clerk's scoring, denies HKM Group's appeal for Woodward Gateway retailer permit

At a commission meeting, the Pontiac Marijuana Business Commission voted to deny an appeal by HKM Group LLC, d/b/a Nature's Finest, of the city clerk's scoring of its Woodward Gateway Overlay adult-use marijuana retailer permit application.

Mr. Stocks, who read the commission's resolution, recited the record: "Ordinance 24-24 gives the city clerk, Garland Doyle, the authority to score and rank applications for adult use marijuana retailer establishments..." He said the clerk originally assigned HKM a score of 150 out of 185 possible points, the hearing officer recommended upholding zero points under sections 13(f)(10) and 13(f)(11) and recommended a 4-point deduction for missing labeled attachments, and the clerk adopted the hearing officer's recommendation, resulting in a final score of 146.

The resolution adopted by the commission states in full that it "enters this decision denying the appeal of HKM Group LLC and upholding the hearing officer's recommendation and the clerk's scoring decision, assigning 0 points under 13(f)(10), 0 points under section 13(f)(11), and deducting 4 points under 13(f)(1) for a total of 146 points for HKM Group LLC, d/b/a Nature's Finest, Adult Use Marijuana Establishment, Woodward Gateway Overlay District Retailer Permit Application." The commission recorded the motion to approve the resolution as passed.

Why it matters: The commission's decision affirms the clerk's exercise of authority under the city zoning rules (Ordinance 24-24) and leaves HKM ranked third of four applicants in the Woodward Gateway Overlay District, per the record read into the minutes. Because conditional permits are awarded to the two highest-scoring applicants in that district, the scoring has direct bearing on whether HKM advances toward a conditional permit.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to excuse Commissioner Ford: approved (recorded as approved; Ford absent). - Amendment to the agenda (move public comment after the hearing): approved (recorded as 3 ayes, 0 nays). - Approval of the amended agenda and minutes (Oct. 23, 2005): approved (recorded as 3 ayes, 0 nays). - Resolution denying HKM Group LLC's appeal (upholding clerk and hearing officer findings, final score 146): approved (recorded as passed). - Scheduling next commission meeting for Nov. 18 at 3:00 p.m.: approved (recorded as 3 ayes, 0 nays). - Motion to adjourn: approved (recorded as 3 ayes, 0 nays); meeting adjourned at 03:15.

What the record shows: The commission's written resolution and the hearing officer's recommendation (dated 07/07/2025 in the record read aloud) form the basis for the decision. The record explains the rationale: HKM's property was treated as vacant land for purposes of sections 13(f)(10) and 13(f)(11), so no points were awarded for building rehabilitation; a procedural deduction of four points was applied for failing to submit designated labeled attachments under section 13(f)(1). The clerk, Garland Doyle, accepted the hearing officer's recommendation and amended HKM's score accordingly.

Next steps: The commission scheduled a follow-up meeting for Nov. 18 at 3:00 p.m. The transcript records no public commenters on the appeal at this meeting.

(Reporting based on the commission meeting record and the resolution read into the minutes.)