Proposed Norton marijuana retailer hearing continued after neighbors raise safety and proximity concerns

Applicants for a proposed marijuana retail store at 246 East Main (Maruti Wellness Norton LLC) appeared before the Norton Planning Board but the board agreed to continue the public hearing to March 17, 2026 to allow fuller participation and to examine traffic and safety issues raised by nearby residents.

Valerio Romano, counsel for the applicant, said the team holds a host‑community agreement and has completed community outreach. Yash Patel, an applicant, said technical problems interrupted an outreach meeting but that questions were answered and materials were shared.

Residents, including Moren Schroinski (president of the Kingsbury Hill Condo Association), urged the board to consider the retail location’s proximity to a nursery school and a karate school, the design of the site entrance, lighting and hours of operation. Schroinski said her association represents 40 homeowners and asked that the board continue the hearing so abutters who could not attend due to the storm can be heard.

Board members noted the town bylaw sets setbacks from K–12 schools and that the nursery‑school proximity is not a bylaw disqualification; nonetheless, the board said traffic, hours, lighting and entrance geometry would be scrutinized at the resumed hearing. Given quorum concerns and public interest, the board voted to continue the application to March 17.

What happens next: The applicants will prepare materials addressing traffic, lighting, hours of operation and site‑entrance design; the board will consider those materials and further public comment at the continued hearing.

Representative quote: "I represent 40 homeowners... the location and the entrance issues are concerns that need to be significantly addressed before this project is allowed to proceed." — Moren Schroinski