A cannabis retail store may soon be coming to the Rochester Crossroads mixed-use development at Routes 58 and 28.
The design of “Megan’s Organic Market,” an established cannabis retailer, seeks to normalize the retail cannabis-buying experience with a typical, retail-store configuration, company Principal Nick Andrian explained to the Rochester Select Board members Woody Hartley, Paul Ciaburri and Brad Morse as the board reviewed a proposed Community Host Agreement between the town and the store during Monday night’s public meeting at Rochester Town Hall.
The agreement would include the store giving the town 1 percent of its gross receipts over and above the 3 percent of revenues that the state mandates each host community of such businesses should receive.
Andrian told the Select Board that customers will find that the open concept of the store’s design, wherein the actual product packaging is easily accessible on display, will be more comfortable than the typical atmosphere of a prescription pharmacy. Customers can pick up either a red basket signaling that they do not need customer assistance or a black basket indicating the patron does need help.
Since the Commonwealth of Massachusetts does not allow the company’s typical placement of actual products on display, Andrian said that the Rochester store would display “dummy packaging” that customers can take to the counter to do the actual ordering.
Andrian also noted the California-based company prides itself on “responsible stewardship.” He said that the store will place its 1 percent of receipts into a local community fund. Megan’s Organic Market plans to sponsor charitable events and do volunteer work.
The store, he said, will be built on a free-standing lot as far away as possible from other Rochester Crossroads tenants such as the proposed child-care center. Security will be tight. Doors and windows will be alarmed. There will be security cameras inside and out.
The entrance leads to a lobby where a receptionist and a security guard will check customers’ credentials. The HVAC system will prevent odors. The store will not carry disposable vape pens.
After hearing the presentation, the Select Board concluded that the terms of the Community Host Agreement are “straightforward” but chose to review it further before taking a vote.
The board also came close to approving a date for the fall Town Meeting. Town Administrator Glenn Cannon suggested October 10 or 17; Select Board member Brad Morse suggested waiting to learn the Planning Board’s timetable for proposing articles for the meeting.
The Select Board also announced and responded to two resignations. Assistant wiring inspector George Randall has resigned; the board appointed Roger Poitras, who was once the head wiring inspector in Mattapoisett, to replace him.
The Select Board also announced that Boards of Assessors Assessment Administrator Debra Lalli has retired. The board encourages interested applicants to send a letter of interest by mail or email to the Assessor’s office at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way, Rochester, Massachusetts 02770.
Cannon announced that the town will receive $23,766 from Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School after the school system received a state Community Mitigation Grant that reduced its budget.
The next meeting of the Rochester Select Board is scheduled for Monday, August 1, at 6:00 pm.
Rochester Select Board
By Michael J. DeCicco