Just days after meeting with the public and getting some pushback about a proposed adult-use marijuana shop in Vineyard Haven, Patient Centric CEO Geoff Rose went before Tisbury selectmen Tuesday to talk about a host-community agreement.
The agreement would determine annual tax revenue, agreements to participate in local town, business, nonprofit, and philanthropic organizations, and education and community outreach efforts.
“The host community agreement is fundamentally an agreement for financial, I’ll call it remuneration … by the town for products, services that the town may have to utilize in the course of dealing with our business,” Rose said. Rose reminded the board Tisbury can garner up to 3 percent of gross revenues as part of the host community agreement. By another method, a percentage of sales tax, Rose told the board Tisbury could glean up to another 3 percent of gross revenue: “I feel that I have the experience. I’ve been advocating for safe, appropriate use of cannabis now for over six years, and I’m looking forward to working with the town.”
Selectman Jeff Kristal asked if the host agreement was specific to the unit Rose proposed occupying in the Woodland Center.
“The host community agreement does state that that property is compliant with the bylaw of the town,” he replied. “It’s in the B2 district …” Later the board came to believe it was specific to the property, though Rose did not seem to provide a direct answer on the matter.
“Have you looked at any other places?” selectman Jim Rogers asked.
“I’ve spent a good deal of time looking up and down the B2 in this town and other zoned areas,” he said, but essentially said he didn’t find anything, though his response was a bit unclear. He pointed out to Rogers the location was “off Main Street” and “down underneath the Woodland Center.” Rose went on to say there are 100 parking spots in Woodland Center, and via an “informal analysis,” the maximum number of spaces his business would require amounts to 12.
“I understand the public outreach wasn’t too well received,” Rogers said.
“I got several comments,” Rose said. “But you know, I think there were concerns on the part of businesses that are there. My goal is to work with them and mitigate some of the issues. Unfortunately, there may be issues wherever one goes. So the idea is to be responsible, cooperative, and deal with, work with the individuals. I understand the concern[s]. You know one of them was traffic.” He described traffic as “probably the single most concern,” and said it was reasonable to require up to 12 parking spaces.
Rose went on to illustrate he went out of his way to be honest and friendly with his potential neighbors: “When I started the process, I proactively went to a number of the businesses in that area. I wasn’t required to, but I felt that that was the right thing to do.” To those business owners, Rose said, he gave “upfront” explanations of his business model. “That’s the way I operate,” he said.
“So you’re in receipt of the letter from the attorney from Woodland Center …,” Kristal asked.
“I am,” Rose said.
“So they’re not just opposed to it; they’re adamantly opposed to it,” Kristal said. “They gave several reasons, a lot more than just parking.” Kristal went on to ask if Rose endeavored to grow cannabis, not just sell it in Tisbury.
“I’m only looking for a location for a retail marijuana establishment,” he said.
Kristal asked why Rose did not opt to retail his product where he intended to propagate it — West Tisbury.
“Part of the consideration is that this is a very large Island. And so I looked at what I thought was a geographically appropriate location.”
Chairman Melinda Loberg asked if there was any way to foretell if all concerns about the business could be mitigated prior to the board signing a host agreement.
“Respectfully there really are two separate processes. If there are concerns about the property, and any other issues related to it, that’s a planning board [concern]. That’s when I start the special permit process … The host community agreement is between the selectmen and Patient Centric to negotiate …”
“Sorry, if you’re saying this goes specifically [to] Woodlawn unit 11, I’ve got concerns with just signing the [community host agreement] saying that’s enough, we’ll let the planning board figure it out,” Kristal said. “We’re charged with the town as a whole.”
“Well, I agree,” Rogers said. “I have concerns with what the abutters are saying.”
One abutter who was present spoke out, as she did at the public forum. Chiropractor Slavin said she co-owned unit 12 next door. She said her unit shares a bathroom with unit 11, and she said she has “very legitimate” concerns about parking.
“It’s a busy place,” she said. “And so having another 12 cars, as he said, would be a major burden at busy times of the season.” Slavin also brought up the dance studio.
“There are tons of kids there,” she said, many of whom feel comfortable going to Humphrys or even walking down to our practice. So that should be part of the conversation.”
Rose said the children wait outside in a porchway, and “there’s no way as a responsible parent that I would permit my child to walk through the parking lot … around and down.” Furthermore, he said, all they would see if they did was a business that looks like a doctor’s office.
Ultimately, Rose agreed to meet with Slavin at a later date to see if they could find solutions. The selectmen declined to vote on the host agreement, and proposed revisiting it at their next meeting.
There is clear evidence now surfacing that cannabis is harmful for younger persons, 25 and under, retarding normal brain development. I suggest others read these reports.
What exactly does that have to do with the location of a store?
pubic trust– clear evidence that it may “change” young brains, just like a high protein diet. From what I can tell, it likely changes them for the better. I’m with b4jaws– what does your comment have to do with the location of this store ? Perhaps you could post a link to one of the ” so called reports” you speak of
I would be happy to read it.
Don, this also has nothing to do with location of a store, but you asked for a link. Marijuana affects brain development and this is in no way “for the better”. As with all drugs, even when used medicinally, there are short term and long term side effects, some negative. From what I can tell, regular recreational cannabis use makes people uninteresting and it often leads to them saying stupid things, but that is anecdotal. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana
jackie– my comments are also anecdotal. Your comment that ” regular recreational cannabis use makes people uninteresting and it often leads to them saying stupid things” is — I don’t have the word– perhaps you do– you have an excellent vocabulary– i mean no criticism of you , but really, the “uninteresting” label is something not really verifiable by any standard, and from what i can see on this site, people who claim to have never indulged say the stupidest things.
also , thank you for providing a verifiable link in your last post– i found it interesting.
Despite alcohol having been shown to affect brain development and can lead to addiction, the 18th Amendment was repealed. Liquor can be bought and consumed in restaurants, bars, and homes. We penalize those who misuse and we eliminated bootlegging. The learning curve is steep in America.
All true, New Englander. And no sober person gets on social media and pretends that alcohol use by young people with still-developing brains produces brain changes for the better.
But likely sober ad execs approving television and magazine advertisements presenting that it’s cool to walk around social events with an alcoholic beverage in hand.
How do we protect from each other those who support and those who oppose?
It’s not cool to say that the effects of THC changes young brains for the better. Even drunk ad execs don’t say that. I would hope we all want to protect our young people. Also, how much cannabis does a person over 21 recreationally use before they are impaired? Most people, ad execs included, can have one drink with dinner or at a social event and not be impaired. Isn’t the point of recreational cannabis to get yourself impaired/high/into an altered state? There is no agreed-upon level of impairment with cannabis to know when it is safe to drive a car, for instance, as there is with alcohol. Things like a too-slowed reaction time have never been determined. It’s a complicated can of worms, but the use of products containing THC is far from benign in young brains, and, it seems, in anyone who gets behind the wheel.
Jackie: Not at all complicated. Your comment defended alcohol.
Jackie: How do we prevent alcoholism? Compare that to marijuana. Shades of Prohibition.
Ok…….. The issue of legalizing marijuana is a divisive issue. The folks against it are going to try anything possible to impede the local selling. I respect their feelings. However, we have laws in this state, the majority have spoken. Pot is legal. If you continue to see block, Mr. Rose, the issue will not go away, even if Mr. Rose gives up. Someone else will take his place. My point is that there is no “perfect” location. For any one given location, most likely we will find ten people who will oppose the location. But we all know, it’s not the location that’s the issue, it’s the concept, the idea, of selling pot on our island. We would do much much better if we cared about eliminating tobacco product sales on the Vineyard. The damage to people’s lives and their health is bigly greater than the possible damage form marijuana products. How many people die from cancer and cardiovascular diseases every DAY because of tobacco products? WHERE IS THE OUTCRY regarding how and tobacco is sold????
No, it is the location.
Mr. Rose has not provided due diligence regarding the implementation of the shop. He has done his own “informal” research, which means these unfounded conclusions merit no weight without experienced and professional validity. Simply put, the Vineyard House and Rise Dance studio are geographically located too near this type of shop. It would be irresponsible and foolish to approve this dispensary in the Woodlawn community.
Again, it is not that this shop is a bad idea, just not this location.
Mr. Rose, simply find another place to peddle.
Why EXACTLY do you think it is “too close” besides just saying so? What is the fear? That little kids will magically acquire some cannabis just by walking by? I mean, Woodland grill sells tobacco and lottery tickets, two things that ruin way more lives than cannabis ever did.
So…just misplaced fear without a single salient point? Thought so.
There are many articles now appearing on how cannabis effects young developing brains. Here is just one: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181106150439.htm Before we pick a location, shouldn’t we discuss whether this is even a product we want?
We did discuss it. years ago. at the ballot box.
In Canada, pot shops are everywhere. Huge signs right next to grocery stores, in strip malls – literally everywhere. No one seems to care.
Canada is a country full of forward thinking, unbiased,
non-judgemental, unhomophobic, non-flag waving, sans bigotted, stay out of others business kind and gentle people.
As we were prior to the Trump Tragedy.
i understand this issue is about location but for what it’s worth – i believe one needs to have a medical marijuana card to purchase the products. also, customers would need to be at least 21 years old and present a government issued I.D. to purchase of even walk into the store. otherwise you would be escorted out the door. some stores in mainland massachusetts have limits to how much products you can purchase during one visit as well.
Is this a medical or recreational shop?
island observer, aha! i didn’t realize i was confused. i didn’t realize geoff rose has the medical dispensary in west tisbury and this one in tisbury will be a recreational shop. so al a emily litella, “nevermind”.
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