The Pontiac Planning Commission unanimously approved a special‑exception permit and preliminary site plan for The Cured Leaf TC to operate an adult‑use marijuana retail store at 962 Cesar E. Chavez Avenue, while asking the applicant to return with final, dated design drawings and clarified screening details.

Staff described the site as an approximately 1,700‑square‑foot building on about one‑third of an acre within the Cesar Chavez adult‑use overlay and recommended approval with conditions that the site plan address standards of approval related to buffering, access and design. Staff noted that some standards — including first‑floor transparency calculations — can be confirmed only when final construction drawings are submitted.

Alejandro Fernandez of Stonefield Engineering, representing the applicant, answered design questions and confirmed peak employee counts would be low; staff and commissioners discussed multiple recently submitted facade iterations. Commissioner Jackson asked whether the applicant would follow the city’s community‑benefits expectations; planning staff and counsel clarified the application was filed before the ordinance took effect and therefore the community‑benefits requirement did not apply to this application.

Commissioners pressed the applicant for accurate, dated elevations and a reconciled photometric plan; they asked staff to require color elevations, clarity on glazing calculations and a clear dumpster surround detail. The commission also requested that the final site plan come back to the planning commission for final approval rather than be approved solely by staff.

Motion: Approve PSEP25‑016 (special exception) and PSPR25‑045 (preliminary site plan) for The Cured Leaf at 962 Cesar E. Chavez with conditions requiring dated color elevations, photometric reconciliation, masonry/dumpster screening details and return of the final site plan to the commission. Vote: unanimous.