Planning commission denies request to add hemp and THC sales at 2200 Holly Springs Parkway, grandfathering existing CBD and tobacco sales

The Holly Springs City Planning Commission on March 20 considered CUP 06-2025, in which applicant Denny Blackburn sought authorization to add hemp and THC to an existing tobacco and CBD specialty retail business at 2200 Holly Springs Parkway.

Planning staff recommended denying the request to add hemp and THC while allowing the existing tobacco and CBD sales to continue as a grandfathered, nonconforming use. During discussion staff noted the city council had denied similar CUP requests previously and had chosen to grandfather existing tobacco and CBD sales rather than issue new CUPs for hemp or THC.

Chair (unnamed) moved ‘‘deny the conditional use permit request, to add hemp to the business license and THC and to grant and to and to grandfather in the, tobacco and CBD’’ and the motion was seconded and approved; minutes record the motion carried unanimously. The record indicates the commission followed the staff recommendation and mirrored the city council’s recent approach.

The application packet lists the property as 2200 Holly Springs Parkway (Tax Parcel information provided to the commission). The applicant was present for portions of the agenda item; staff emphasized that more intense uses would still require subsequent conditional-use review where applicable.

Outcome and next steps: The commission’s approved motion to deny CUP 06-2025 as proposed removes local authorization to add hemp and THC sales at the site; existing tobacco and CBD sales were preserved as a grandfathered use. Any future attempt to amend that position would require a new application and review under the city’s land-use rules.