Medical Pot Dispensaries Narrowed to 2 Sites in Town Under Zoning Proposal

There's a Special Town Meeting coming up in February, and three of the main warrant articles will deal with local restrictions on medical marijuana dispensaries, several other housekeeping zoning updates and an overlay district for the Tapleyville neighborhood.

The Planning Board will be holding a public hearing on those proposed changes Nov. 26 (7 p.m.) at Town Hall.

On medical marijuana, initially five sites were identified by town planners where a dispensary would be allowed by right in a health care district prior to the moratorium enacted last May at Town Meeting.

Those locations (the former Hunt Hospital, 75 Sylvan St., the Mass. General Hospital Outpatient Center and two industrial parks) were then narrowed down to two sites.

The proposed zoning amendment would create an overlay district to limit the location of such a facility, should a company seek to operate in Danvers, to either the Danvers Industrial Park off Route 1 or the Cherry Hill Industrial Park off Conant Street.

Registered dispensaries would then be barred from all other zoning districts in town.

The Tapleyville District proposal would cover the area between the rail trail and Burroughs, Holten and Pine streets, with the main focus being on the intersection of Holten and Pine streets.

The overlay would allow a mix of residential and small-scale commercial uses in what is otherwise an industrial zoned area.

"The purpose of this district is to promote opportunities for local, small to medium size businesses that can be integrated with compact housing, bicycling and walking access while serving as a transitional zone from abutting residential areas," reads the proposed language. 

By right uses within the district would include convenience stores, restaurants, offices, personal service shops, retail sales, etc., along with single-family and multi-family homes up to four units.

Restaurants, offices and stores larger than 2,500 square feet, however, would require a special permit from the Planning Board.

You can find the proposed zoning amendments and warrant articles in their entirety here on the town website.

Town Clerk Joseph Collins says the Special Town Meeting is likely to be held prior to February school vacation on either Feb. 3 or 10. The exact date will be set by the Board of Selectmen.