The Wayland City Planning Commission Tuesday night recommended the City Council approve four special use permit requests, three of them from prospective retail marijuana businesses.
After considerable discussion in the public hearings, site plans were given the green light for such businesses at 124 S. Main St., former home of Simply Celia’s; 122 W. Superior St., the location for a local computer repair business that has moved, and at 1124 W. Superior, which Shear Concepts moved into about a year ago, but since has scaled back to the original site in the same building.
One marijuana retail business already has been approved by the City Council earlier this month at the store next door to Sweet Leaf Glass behind Burger King.
The City Council is expected to take up the Planning Commission’s recommendations at its meeting Dec. 19.
Also approved was site plan review and a special use permit for the University of Michigan Health Center between United Bank and Burger King along West Superior.
There was some pushback during the public hearing, but it was too late. The Planning Commission and City Council have been grappling with the issue of permitting retail marijuana shops for the past two years, especially since statewide passage of ballot proposal in the 2018 election. An ordinance permittng the cultivation, sale and distribution of marijuana was adopted last July.
Arny Rodriguez, owner of Aqua In Vino on South Main, said he objects to placement of marijuana businesses downtown.
“There’s been little activity to generate business downtown, but I don’t see the advantage of bringing such a facility into the downtown,” he said. “Wayland could become the marijuana capital of the world.”
Rick Welch of Dorr spoke on behalf of the Calvary Church, which is further south on South Main from the business proposed at the former Celia’s, expressing opposition.
Dorr Township Trustee John Tuinstra said the Dorr Township Board adopted an ordinance forbidding marijuana retail businesses.
“We’re doing just fine without them,” he said, adding he expects the more the substance is available, the more fatal traffic crashes will result.
Former Mayor Mike DeWeerd said he has served as a paramedic and saw people messed up on marijuana and referred to it as a gateway drug.
Another citizen expressed concerns about more crime in the downtown area.
Commission Chairman J.D. Gonzales explained that voters in Michigan approved a state-wide ballot proposal for medicinal marijuana in 2008 and another for recreational marijuana in 2018, so the issue before the Planning Commission was not whether the substance is good or bad. He said retail pot businesses must comply with the rules of the local ordinance and this was the mission of the Planning Commission this evening.
“Issues of crime and health are outside the scope of this body,” he said. “We have to have specific reasons to deny (special use permit requests). If they meet the criteria (of the city ordinance), were are obligated to say yes.”
Wayland Schools Supt. Tim Reeves asked about the former Celia’s location being too close to Pine Street Elementary, but Gonzales pointed out that Bentley’s Party Store and the former Jada Gayle distillery were even closer and there were few if any protests.
James Haas, owner of Simple AG, which wants to move in next to Shear Concepts, promised the addition of 10 jobs and security cameras 24/7.
The Planning Commission deliberated on “findings of fact” and the results were unanimous approval for all special uses.
Unanimous approval also was granted to University of Michigan Health West to build a medial office facility at 1113 and 1131 W. Superior. The only caution was from Commissioner Anne Tatreau, who noted the traffic bottlenecks every afternoon when the high school lets students out.
Sad….there goes the neighborhood.
I agree. Are they going to be pushing Fentanyl or possibly an addictive narcotic like Oxyxotin out of this “Health Center”? I also predict an increase in traffic accidents from all the sick people driving in the area. With the 2 and possible rumor of a 3rd dispensary opening up in that area are people going to want to patronize them with that new doctor’s office plopped right in the middle of them?
I’m sorry for the sarcasm but just couldn’t resist being how wide open it was left.
You did forget to mention the potheads on promenade though.
How nice of the good ol’ citizens of Dorr to come and tell the City of Wayland Planning Commission on what they object to.
The next time Dorr wants to open a bar or micro brewery, the citizens of Wayland should return the favor.
And really, the pot capitol and gateway drug? Laughable!
FRWF
Yup, once again “One of ours” escaped the confines of Dorr Township. Just had to proclaim the virtues of keeping businesses that they do not favor from establishing in Dorr Township. Which in their thought process every surrounding township should also do.
Everyone understands that since Dorr has gotten a traffic light and a one-way street. No further enhancements, be they businesses or infrastructure, are needed.
Apologies again it’s just so hard to keep them from “running amok.”
Perhaps now they can recruit some strip Joints or even some diverse night clubs.
Show em how woke Wayland really is….
Might as well we already have enough Churches? Ha HA!!
Fear, Fear, Fear, This is the typical response from people like you and pot stir . It’s called the illusory truth effect.
Sounds like the same cast of naysayers that opposed the Gun Lake Tribe building the casino 15 years ago predicting doom and gloom.
3 years and $157M dollars later the casino opened. That was 12 years ago and the area south of Wayland hasn’t stopped developing. The casino has had 2nd, 3rd and 4th phase expansions that have resulted in 100’s of construction jobs and 100’s of casino jobs after completion. Now that “bad idea” casino has started a 15 story hotel and 30,000 sq ft indoor water park.
The retail marijuana business is in its infancy. It’s regulated and taxed like alcohol and tobacco. It’s a voluntary tax paid by those who use those products. Those who object to the retail locations will still benefit from state taxes being paid. Like the casino, no one is forcing folks into the shops to buy anything.
Wayland downtown and business area to the west has the same issues as other small towns on the 131 corridor that have turned into bedroom communities for Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Allegan (Perrigo). Multiple old storefronts and not enough tenants.
There are 3 businesses willing to sign leases There is no guarantee any or all of these businesses will survive 12 months, especially within the small radius of the competition. What’s an alternative? Like the casino years ago, the current naysayers have a lot of objections and no viable alternatives they are willing to finance.
I am steadfast…… thanks for reaffirming my ideology. Have a wonderful CHRISTMAS and to all a goodnight…….
I invite anyone opposed to these types of businesses to actually frequent one and see what it’s about. Not anyone can get through the front door to browse, unlike a liquor store. The CRA doesn’t even allow product to be visible from the outside. It is a highly regulated industry; more so than the socially acceptable CBD products that do not have nearly as stringent testing.
These businesses bring well paying jobs to the community, tax revenue to the city, not to mention the new property tax revenues from the renovations about to occur on all of these buildings.
The product is already in the community. People are either driving elsewhere to obtain, or they are having it delivered. Preventing a viable business from coming, and creating jobs is not going to keep cannabis out.