PALMER – A petition opposing a marijuana retail establishment was submitted to the Palmer Planning Board, however, at this stage in the process, Chairman Michael Marciniec, said, “It doesn’t hold a lot of weight.”

Green Adventures LLC is seeking a special permit and site plan approval to redevelop the existing buildings to conduct cannabis retail sales on the property located at 1240 Park St. in the Pioneer Plaza.

During the Dec. 19 Planning Board hearing, members shared that a petition was received that day from Gotta Dance Studio Owner Kelly Jordan Peabody. At previous hearings, Peabody expressed her concern with the proximity of the proposed location to her dance studio, although there are no regulations related to cannabis retail’s distance from businesses like Peabody’s.

The petition read, “I am respectfully submitting the attached petition of signatures from our dance family who feel, as I do, that the location of a retail marijuana facility in such close proximity to our children is just not a good idea.”

She continued, “We understand the desire and need for new business in Palmer and simply ask that the proposed tenant find a more suitable location. There is an abundance of available retail space for rent in town, so it is in fact very possible to do so.”

The petition received 71 signatures. Despite the efforts, Marciniec said, those against the marijuana retail establishment should have addressed it before it reached the Planning Board, such as the Town Council stage. “There’s nothing that prohibits this from going in,” he added.

According to the town’s buffer zone laws, no cannabis establishment should be located within 500 feet of a property boundary line of a school providing education to preschool, kindergarten, grades 1-12, or a day care center.

The Palmer Board of Health defines school as public or private, elementary, or secondary schools. This does not include dance studios.

The Dec. 19 public hearing was the third hearing for Green Adventures. It was continued from Nov. 21 due to lack of information regarding stormwater management.

The first public hearing took place during the Oct. 17 Planning Board meeting. At that time, Don Frydryk from the engineering firm Sherman and Frydryk explained that the proposed cannabis facility is on the northwest side of the building, in a 1,250-square-foot space. This space was formerly occupied by Chmura’s Bakery.

With all the information laid out by the applicant including security measures, product sales, odor control and more, one concern was with the stormwater. John Furman, managing director at the engineering firm VHB, said the site has a large gravel area that runs into Breckenridge Street when it rains. In Green Adventures’ application, they requested a waiver for part of stormwater management, however, Furman shared, this should not be waived. Instead, he said it needs to be evaluated and investigated to address the problem on Breckenridge Street. To learn more about the stormwater issue, Frydryk said they would talk to the owners.

On Dec. 19, Furman noted that an updated site plan was provided, including the addition of spot grades, the gravel area that has been loamed and seeded and more. After receiving information on the history of stormwater management, he said the existing and proposed conditions have been upgraded. Furman went on to say that there is a pipe that goes across the parking lot that should not be paved over but instead treated in case it is needed in the future. He added that the site is completely isolated from the municipal system.

Frydryk noted that there is a manhole issue, but it will be addressed before paving.

With a few more additions to be made to the plan, the public hearing was continued until Jan. 9, 2023, at 7:45 p.m.