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Cordova planning commission approves conditional use permit for AMW marijuana shop after heated public comment
Summary
After more than a dozen public comments—mostly opposed—the Cordova Planning Commission voted to grant a conditional use permit to AMW Property Management Company LLC for a retail marijuana establishment in the industrial park, with the motion passing by voice vote.
The Cordova Planning Commission voted to grant a conditional use permit to AMW Property Management Company LLC for a retail marijuana establishment in the Kuroda Industrial Park, after a lengthy public-comment period and deliberation.
Public commenters spoke nearly unanimously against the proposed location, citing concerns about youth exposure, public health, nuisance and policing costs. Charlene Gallenbush said the proposed storefront at the industrial-park entrance is next to a family business and "has the potential to adversely affect public safety, health, and welfare of our community." Janet (who identified herself as the daughter of a neighboring business owner) asked how product would reach Cordova, whether transportation might involve federal air or waterspace, and whether accepted impairment-testing tools exist to support local police.
Other opponents cited academic and local data. Mike Glover presented printed summaries of studies he said link dispensaries to higher rates of hospital visits and adolescent use. Several speakers including Dean Curran and a high-school health teacher said they worried about youth access and long-term harms. One resident suggested placing any dispensary in a former DMV building instead of the harbor-adjacent industrial site.
Supporters included Matt Maxwell, who argued regulation would dilute the black market and bring tax revenue, and representatives from AMW (owner Brian Leshin and a business partner) who introduced themselves and described operating a related shop for three years.
During deliberations commissioners repeatedly emphasized that the commission's decision is quasi-judicial and must be based on the city's code and the conditional-use criteria, not on personal morality. Staff reminded the commission that the applicant met the code's setback requirements and that the review is limited to the conditional-use criteria and any site-plan review that might follow.
After discussion, a commissioner moved to grant the conditional use permit for the retail marijuana establishment submitted by AMW Property Management Company LLC; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote (multiple "Aye" votes and one recorded "Nay").
The commission took no additional, immediate mitigation actions during the vote; commissioners noted that any site plan review could later address operational details such as security, ingress/egress and buffering from adjacent residences and businesses.
The commission adjourned the meeting at 08:07.
