Manlius mulls cannabis ‘grower’s showcase’

TOWN OF MANLIUS – The Manlius Town Board is considering changing the definition of one of its zones that could pave the way for a cannabis “grower’s showcase” near the village of Manlius, but if it does so it will be against the recommendation of the town planning board.
The change would affect only the Residential Transitional District (RT), which only exists in a couple of places along the north side of Route 173, just east of Troop K Road across from the plaza that includes the Dollar Tree and the Daily Diner.
The parcels that are zoned RT are not in the village of Manlius, but are in a small finger of the town that is surrounded almost entirely by properties that are in the village. While cannabis dispensaries are now legal in the town, when given the option, the Manlius Village Board opted not to allow dispensaries.
The change in definition would allow the “sale of farm products, including cannabis, if there are no permanent alterations to the exterior of existing building(s) and such retail sale will for less than 30 consecutive days.”
At a public hearing held last week, Nicholas Agrippino of Manlius, who works in the cannabis industry, said that grower’s showcases, which have taken place in other areas around the state, require growers and producers to work with existing licensed cannabis retailers.
Following the legalization of marijuana, cannabis growers and processors were greenlighted by New York State before many of the retail regulations were finalized. Because of the slow rollout on the retail side, many growers have had a difficult time finding marketplaces for their products.
These grower’s showcases, Agrippino said, are a temporary fix to the lack of rollout of the retail regulations.
Last week, the town board referred the change to the planning board for its recommendation, which planners discussed at their meeting on Monday night.
Members of the planning board had a variety of concerns with the law, including putting it in the RT zone that includes single-family residences.
“It should be treated the same way that a liquor store is,” said planning board member Erin Reynolds. “It should be treated with the fear and respect that alcohol is.”
Planners were also concerned the language in the law was too broad and could have unintended consequences. By including cannabis in the definition of retail, they wondered, could it open up cannabis sales to other areas of the town where retail is allowed. They also felt that the 30-day periods could be abused, because there is no limit on the number 30-day periods within a six-month or annual period.
“I candidly don’t like the verbiage in here at all,” said planning board Chairman Joseph Lupia.
“My personal opinion is, even though it’s legal in NYS, I don’t want to see it in this town,” said planning board member Rich Rossetti.
The negative recommendation was unanimous.
The town board is expected to continue the public hearing at its next meeting on Nov. 1.