Charlton selectmen call special town meeting on marijuana, zoning
By
Debbie LaPlaca
Correspondent
Posted Jul 18, 2018 at 9:26 AM
Updated Jul 18, 2018 at 8:19 PM
CHARLTON — In response to a citizens’ petition, selectmen have called
a special town meeting to consider rescission of recently adopted
marijuana zoning and whether the town will prohibit non-medical
marijuana business in town.
The meeting is set for 7 p.m. Aug. 1 at Charlton Middle School at 2 Oxford Road.
The more than 250 signatories on the citizens’ petition say the marijuana business zoning approved by voters as Article 27 at the May 21 town meeting is unacceptable.
The June 20 petition calls for a special town meeting to reconsider the article.
A second citizens’ petition filed July 11 seeks to add a second article to the meeting warrant that seeks to adopt a townwide prohibition on all types of non-medical marijuana related businesses.
A group of residents known as Preserve Charlton’s Character and Charlton Orchards abutters Gerard F. and Margaret M. Russell filed the petitions.
In a recent interview, Ms. Russell said the town would be better protected from large marijuana businesses siting in residential neighborhoods without local zoning.
At a July 11 Planning Board meeting, Chairwoman Patricia Rydlak said the rescission of Article 27 is “dangerous” and she would rather work with the petitioners to find a “fix.”
If voters nullify Article 27, she said, the town will have no marijuana business regulations until the next town meeting.
The residents’ group has been fighting Valley Green Grow’s plan to construct a $100 million marijuana cultivation, sales and research center on Charlton Orchards land, which could become the largest in the state, and possibly the country.
The North Andover company has a purchase agreement on the 94-acre orchard at 44 Old Worcester Road, owned by the Benjamin family.
Interim Town Planner Bill Scanlan has said the proposal is exempt from the marijuana business zoning adopted May 21 because Valley Green Grow filed a preliminary site plan with the planning office on April 25, thereby locking in the orchard zoning.
Gerard Russell, assistant managing editor of the Telegram & Gazette, has recused himself from any involvement with this news story.
The meeting is set for 7 p.m. Aug. 1 at Charlton Middle School at 2 Oxford Road.
The more than 250 signatories on the citizens’ petition say the marijuana business zoning approved by voters as Article 27 at the May 21 town meeting is unacceptable.
The June 20 petition calls for a special town meeting to reconsider the article.
A second citizens’ petition filed July 11 seeks to add a second article to the meeting warrant that seeks to adopt a townwide prohibition on all types of non-medical marijuana related businesses.
A group of residents known as Preserve Charlton’s Character and Charlton Orchards abutters Gerard F. and Margaret M. Russell filed the petitions.
In a recent interview, Ms. Russell said the town would be better protected from large marijuana businesses siting in residential neighborhoods without local zoning.
At a July 11 Planning Board meeting, Chairwoman Patricia Rydlak said the rescission of Article 27 is “dangerous” and she would rather work with the petitioners to find a “fix.”
The residents’ group has been fighting Valley Green Grow’s plan to construct a $100 million marijuana cultivation, sales and research center on Charlton Orchards land, which could become the largest in the state, and possibly the country.
The North Andover company has a purchase agreement on the 94-acre orchard at 44 Old Worcester Road, owned by the Benjamin family.
Interim Town Planner Bill Scanlan has said the proposal is exempt from the marijuana business zoning adopted May 21 because Valley Green Grow filed a preliminary site plan with the planning office on April 25, thereby locking in the orchard zoning.
Gerard Russell, assistant managing editor of the Telegram & Gazette, has recused himself from any involvement with this news story.
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