A community outreach meeting held on January 4 to discuss a marijuana retail store moving to Rochester drew no one from the public, but details were updated on the plan for Megan’s Organic Market at the Rochester Crossroads’ mixed-use development at Routes 58 and 28.
The design of the market seeks to normalize the retail cannabis-buying experience with a typical retail-store configuration, explained company Principal Nick Andrian, who was attending remotely via Zoom as part of the outreach meeting required by the state for applicants for a marijuana retail-sales license.
The company’s attorney, Jonathan Silverstein, noted the Host Community Agreement that Megan’s recently agreed to with the town is one of the first to be signed after the state’s recent revision of the new regulations legalizing cannabis across the commonwealth.
The agreement includes the promise that the store will give the town 1% of its gross receipts over and above the 3% of revenues that the state mandates each host community of such businesses should receive. It will also reimburse permit-consulting costs incurred by Rochester and give the town a Community Impact fee, estimated at $100,000.
Silverstein said the store, a free-standing, 3,000 square-foot building with 20 parking spaces, will require a special permit and site-plan review approval by the Planning Board and eventually, licensing from the state Cannabis Commission.
In answer to questions from members of the press after the presentation, Ken Steen, developer of the overall Crossroads mixed-use development, said the petitioners would hold a preliminary meeting with the Planning Board in January and present a formal plan in February. Silverstein said the big question is how long the licensing phase will take. That, he said, is still uncertain. Of the overall Crossroads project, Stein said street prep and improvements will probably begin between late spring and early summer.
“We’re progressing as fast as we can,” Silverstein said.
Andrian said customers will find that the open concept of the store’s design, wherein the actual product packaging is easily available on display, will be more comfortable than the typical atmosphere of a marijuana dispensary. The company’s typical design is to place the actual products on display, he said. Since Massachusetts does not allow that, the Rochester store will display “dummy packaging” that customers can take to the counter to do the actual ordering.
Security will be tight, Andrian said. Doors and windows will be alarmed, and garage-door-like, secure barriers will roll down from the inside to close off the windows from intruders at night. There will be security cameras inside and out and security guards during normal operating hours.
The plan calls for an entrance that will lead to a lobby where a receptionist and a security guard will check customers’ credentials. All visitors will be buzzed in to enter the store itself. The HVAC system will prevent odors. The delivery bays will be enclosed by dark fencing. The store will not allow use of the product on site, nor will it carry disposal “vape” pens.
Megan’s Organic Market opened its first store in 2013 in the City of San Luis Obispo, California, where its flagship location still sits.
By Michael J. DeCicco