Commission hears Nature’s Remedy site plan and marijuana‑use special exception but takes no action after notice defect

Planning staff presented two related applications for 278 and 290 West Walton — a site plan for two retail buildings and a special‑exception permit required for an adult‑use marijuana retail operation at 290 West Walton — but told the commission it could not act because the special‑exception application paperwork was not signed in accordance with the zoning ordinance (6.902(d)). The commission accepted public comment and a staff and applicant presentation and deferred formal action to the next scheduled meeting.

Michael (planning staff) described the sites as adjacent parcels in a C‑3 Commercial Quarter zoning district inside the Walton Boulevard adult‑use marijuana overlay. Staff said the proposed 290 building (Nature’s Remedy) would be about 3,300 square feet and 278 about 2,500 square feet; staff recommended approval of a special exception in principle but listed compliance items that must be clarified on return, including odor mitigation, a backup generator, screening for loading areas, and rooftop/mechanical screening.

Architect Brian Gill and applicant representative Walter Manju (transcript shows multiple spelling variants for the applicant’s surname) said the proposal includes façade materials and a 20‑foot landscape buffer to residential properties. Manju said his HR team had already begun recruiting locally: “Our HR department has already started hiring from the city of Pontiac,” he said, and estimated about 30 positions associated with the development.

Neighbors and council members raised operational concerns: questions about whether the 278 building would sell marijuana (staff clarified it would be limited to non‑marijuana retail), requests to ensure site access is from Walton (not neighborhood streets), concerns about odor and whether curbside sales would be allowed (applicant said no curbside sales; handicapped customers can pick up pre‑paid orders), and requests for more robust buffering and lighting controls. Residents also mentioned an existing nearby grow operation and asked the commission to limit additional marijuana uses in the immediate area.

Commissioners pressed the applicant on community benefits and operational details; Chair Sue Sinclair voiced safety concerns about the proposed parking and two closely spaced two‑way driveway approaches on Walton Boulevard (a high‑speed corridor) and said she would not vote to approve the current configuration. Staff noted the zoning ordinance allows the city engineer to waive driveway separation requirements but commissioners urged a redesigned access plan to reduce crash risk, better dumpster screening, and clarified transparency/visibility requirements (40% or 65% first‑floor transparency depends on how the building sits relative to the street and parking).

Because of the noticing/signature defect staff flagged under ordinance 6.902(d), the commission held the public hearing and review for public input but took no vote; both applications will be scheduled for the February meeting when the applicant provides the necessary corrected paperwork and the additional information staff requested.