The remaining three applications were tabled in part due to their proposed dispensary locations falling within 1,000 feet from the Missouri group’s dispensary that’s planned to go inside the Runnings building when the retailer moves.
The Mitchell City Council approved another medical marijuana dispensary license on Monday, but tabled three applications due to breaching the city’s zoning codes.
Among the four dispensary applications that were recently submitted to the city, a Missouri-based medical cannabis company that will do business as BWD Mitchell was the one to receive the council’s unanimous approval. The remaining three applications were tabled in part due to the proposed dispensary locations falling within 1,000 feet from the Missouri group’s dispensary that’s planned to go inside the Runnings building when the retailer moves into the former Kmart building across the street.
As part of the city’s zoning codes for medical marijuana establishments, a dispensary cannot be within 1,000 feet of another dispensary without a variance being issued. That means the three applications that were tabled on Monday will be required to get a variance in order for the dispensaries to be approved by the council. The city Planning and Zoning Commission will consider approving the variances, which City Attorney Justin Johnson said could take place on Jan. 10, 2022, at the earliest. After the Planning Commission considers the variances, it would send the applications back to the council for final approval.
“Each of the applications that you have were reviewed by staff and meet the requirements, but there are some variances that will be needed for some of them,” Johnson said.
While the city had a lottery system in place for applicants to enter to secure a dispensary license, only one was submitted prior to the Oct. 29 lottery deadline, which eliminated the need for conducting a lottery since there weren’t more than five applications submitted. Once the deadline hit, the city began accepting dispensary, cultivation, manufacturing and testing facility applications on a first come, first serve basis.
“Had the Runnings building application not been approved first, this one, for example, would have met all requirements to be approved tonight,” Everson said.
BWD Mitchell’s dispensary would be dubbed BesaMe Wellness. The group operates nine BesaMe Wellness dispensaries in the state of Missouri, with locations in Kansas City, Joplin and Smithville, to name a few. While most of the applicants who submitted on behalf of BWD Mitchell are Missouri residents, the vice president of the company is a South Dakota resident, as required by the city’s medical cannabis licensing regulations.
As construction work advances at the 1313 S. Burr St. building, Runnings is inching closer to opening at the new and improved location, which would free up the 1400 S. Burr St. building for the group to transform into a medical cannabis business.
Three applications sidelined pending variance approval
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