People near a proposed marijuana dispensary in Highland Square fear for their safety, their property values, the effect it could have on recovering addicts and its proximity to a residential neighborhood.
The proposal to bring a dispensary to 730 West Market St. brought residents of the surrounding areas to Ward 1 Councilman Sam DeShazior’s monthly meeting June 11 and the June 13 Akron Planning Commission meeting — where many spoke firmly in opposition to the plan, and some, at the ward meeting, voiced their support.
The facility is so contentious that DeShazior’s ward meeting briefly devolved into shouting between supporters and opponents, with people yelling over representatives from OPC Cultivations, LLC — the company doing business as Firelands Scientific that wishes to open the dispensary called The Landing — as they tried to answer questions.
Proponents say times have changed and it’s time to stop treating marijuana with outdated attitudes.
Drew Finkes, real estate development manager for Firelands Scientific, said the opposition will be surprised by what they see if the company is allowed to do business there.
“We operate something that is professional, secure, tested products that the state approves,” he said, adding that the company wants the opportunity to show it can be a good neighbor.
“We don’t feed into any of the negative stereotypes about us,” said Finkes.
If approved to operate, The Landing would be the first dispensary in Highland Square and perhaps the most prominently placed location along a high-traffic thoroughfare citywide.
At the ward meeting, DeShazior said he’s a neutral party waiting to hear all sides before deciding one way or the other.
“We like to be involved in various community activities — community cleanups, toy drives, things like that,” Jesse Gannon, OPC’s general counsel, told the planning commission. “So we’re looking forward to doing the same with Akron.”
Finkes said OPC’s presence at DeShazior’s ward meeting is an intentional effort to dispel people’s misconceptions about the marijuana business.
“We don’t want to shy away from anything,” he said. “We’re not hiding anything. We’re following all the rules to the ‘T.'”
The Akron Planning Commission voted 3-0, with Stephanie York abstaining, to recommend disapproval of the plan to Akron City Council’s Planning and Economic Development Committee, in whose lap this now falls. The committee will put the measure to a public hearing, after which it will make a recommendation to all of council. After that, City Council will vote to grant the permit, deny it or take more time deliberating.
According to Akron’s Code of Ordinances, the council must hold hearings on conditional use permits noticed “not less than 15 days before the date of the required hearings.”
Is the area zoned for marijuana businesses?
David Parks lives on Dodge Avenue, near the proposed facility. He’s leading the opposition, arguing the area is residential and not zoned to accommodate businesses.
An opinion distributed by Parks and signed by attorney Nancy Holland — the former Ward 1 councilwoman — states, “While this property bears a West Market Street address, the entrances and limited parking are located on Dodge Avenue, a residential street in the West Hill/Highland Square neighborhood.”
Akron’s code of ordinances states “Marijuana dispensaries shall be prohibited in residentially zoned areas except for institutional districts (UHD).”
Holland’s opinion continues, “. . .730 West Market is not zoned UHD. . .it is currently a low-traffic private office space and has never been used for a commercial/retail purpose.”
According to planning commission documents, the dispensary would occupy an over 4,000-square-foot addition built on to Summit Management Services, Inc., a property management company.
Customers would come and go via Dodge Avenue, which worries some residents.
City Planning Director Kyle Julien said via email that if a parcel zoned for homes or apartments, no dispensaries will be approved there. He pointed out that mixed-use areas are common in cities, and Highland Square is one such area.
Why are nearby residents opposed plans for a marijuana dispensary in Highland Square?
Parks, like some of his neighbors, worries about the traffic volume the dispensary might generate in an already heavily trafficked neighborhood.
“It’s going to bring people in from all directions,” he said.
Katie Carver Reed, vice president and chief operating officer of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, lives nearby. She expressed concern for pedestrian safety and more auto accidents because of increased traffic.
“I’m also concerned that this increased traffic from this business will likely impede the ability of the fire department to quickly access West Market Street,” she said. Fire Station No. 9 is on Dodge Avenue.
Pamela Pinkney-Butts accused the company of being interlopers concerned only with profiting from the community — with no concern for the people who could become hooked on their product.
Lori Lawrence, Oriana House’s vice president of correctional programs in Summit County, said the organization objects to the dispensary because of its proximity to a building operated by the program at 750 W. Market St.
“Relapse rates for individuals for substance use disorders is already high, estimated between 40% and 60%,” she said, “and exposing these folks to triggers like the dispensary is just going to contribute to that relapse factor.”
Who spoke in support of Akron’s latest proposed dispensary?
Two of the attendees at DeShazior’s ward meeting spoke in favor of the facility.
Amanda Markovich, who lives near Angel Falls Coffee Company, said there’s still some misunderstanding about how marijuana effects people.
“If you’re sitting around getting baked out all day long, yeah, OK, that’s not good,” she said, adding that wise use can be beneficial.
“The thing is, some of these people (have) very antiquated ideas about it,” she said, “like kids are going to go in there all the time. No one lets you in unless you’re 21 and over; there’s parameters set.”
She was frustrated that representatives from OPC were shouted down when they tried to answer questions.
Sara Yuronka lives on Kuder Avenue, across the street from the proposed site. She said she doesn’t mind living close to a dispensary and believes it’ll boost the community’s economic profile.
“I’m all for it,” Yuronka said, “and people in West Akron will come here, and they’ll patron something in Highland Square.”
Contact reporter Derek Kreider at DKreider@Gannett.com or 330-541-9413.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Why are people upset about a proposed marijuana dispensary in Highland Square?
Reporting by Derek Kreider, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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