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Public hearing on proposed 428 Main Street cannabis store draws split downtown — decision continued
Summary
A combined zoning text amendment and special exception application to allow a cannabis retail store at 428 Main Street prompted hours of testimony for and against. Supporters cited regulated sales, municipal revenue and revitalization; opponents warned about Main Street character, parking and safety. The commission continued the hearings to April 9 for additional material.
The Middletown Planning & Zoning Commission on March 26 held an extensive public hearing on two linked items: a zoning text amendment to permit cannabis retail in the B‑1 (downtown) zone (item 6.3) and a special exception for a cannabis retail establishment proposed for 428 Main Street with an entrance off Molloy/Mallilly Plaza (item 6.4). The commission combined discussion of both items and continued the hearings to April 9 for further information.
Applicant attorney Jesse Langer and property owner Dominic DeMartino described a high‑end, 4,500‑square‑foot retail operation that would limit public visibility from Main Street (entrance off the plaza), employ about 10–15 people, and comply with state security and seed‑to‑sale tracking. Jerry Farrell, who said he served as a commissioner of the Department of Consumer Protection, emphasized the strict state licensing regime and security requirements. The applicant projected municipal receipts from the state‑mandated 3% of gross sales and estimated annual municipal revenue in the low six figures.
Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters — including downtown landlords, Liberty Bank, the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce and some city economic‑development officials — argued a regulated dispensary attracts foot traffic, generates tax revenue earmarked for community programs, and brings a stable, licensed alternative to unregulated sellers. Opponents — Amato’s Toy & Hobby and other long‑time downtown merchants, the Middlesex Music Academy, nearby residents and service providers — said the proposed location is not appropriate for the Main Street environment, raised concerns about parking and pedestrian safety, and worried about perceptions that could deter family‑oriented visitors. Several speakers urged commissioners to separate the developer's reputation from the question of whether the land‑use change is appropriate.
Commissioners asked for clearer Main Street frontage renderings, police data on impacts from comparable downtown dispensaries, and examples from other municipalities where cannabis retail operates in downtown cores without damaging retail character. After a lengthy exchange and several procedural motions, the commission voted to continue the public hearings to April 9 so staff and the applicant can provide that additional information.
The commission did not take a final vote on either the zoning text amendment or the special exception at this meeting.
