LYNN — The City Council voted Tuesday night to issue its final recreational marijuana license to Diem Cannabis, an Oregon-based company seeking to open a shop on Lewis Street.
The panel voted, 9-1, in favor of the company’s proposal despite numerous concerns raised by neighbors about traffic and parking and a representative from the nearby Lynn Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church speaking against the sale of “drugs.”
Ward 4 Councilor Richard Colucci, whose ward borders the area, voted against the proposed shop, which would be located at 211-217 Lewis St.
“I think it’s going to be a great fit for that part of town,” said Chris Mitchem, CEO of Diem Cannabis. “We’re excited about the opportunity to see everything happening in the city and we’re excited to be a part of it.”
Although Diem Cannabis was supported by the majority of the council Tuesday, it hasn’t been a smooth ride for the company.
Overwhelming opposition from the neighborhood killed the company’s initial plans to open at 229 Lewis St., or 1 Chestnut. That proposal was tabled by the City Council in September and officially rejected by the panel in December.
Mitchem said the company’s new location, located about 50 feet down the street, has much better parking — 11 spaces in a parking lot behind the building, along with on-street spaces — which was one of the neighborhood’s top concerns.
Diem plans to invest at least $800,000 into the 7,837 square-foot building for renovations, which is similar to the investment the owners have made into their Worcester space, Mitchem said.
Paul Coombs, a neighbor and president of the Goldfish Pond Association, spoke in favor of the company’s proposal, but his sentiments didn’t match those of other abutters in attendance.
“It will bring a lot of business to the neighborhood,” said Coombs. “With increased traffic, hopefully other businesses will be able to open up there as well.”
Other neighbors asked for the vote to be tabled, citing continued concerns about a lack of parking and congestion in the area, which they felt would be exacerbated by the new business. Some felt there was a lack of transparency from the City Council with how the meeting was communicated to the neighborhood.
“Nobody on my street was notified about this meeting,” said Ryan Johnson, who lives in the neighborhood. “This vote is happening without us really knowing about it.”
Despite the concerns, City Council President Darren Cyr, who represents the area where the shop would be located, and Ward 2 Councilor Rick Starbard, chairman of the City Council Recreational Cannabis Site Plan Review Committee, both spoke in favor of Diem’s plans before the vote.
Cyr said he was “on board” because the business would be creating jobs in the neighborhood and noted the company has worked to address the concerns raised by the abutters.
“I think these folks have demonstrated they’re a professional organization and I think they would be a good addition to the neighborhood,” said Starbard.
Diem would next enter into a host agreement with the city, which would require the company to provide Lynn with 6 percent of its annual gross revenues. The agreement would need to be signed by Mayor Thomas M. McGee.
Diem also needs approval from the state’s Cannabis Control Commission before it can operate in Lynn.
Although Diem has been granted the city’s eighth and final special permit, another company’s recreational marijuana license remains in flux.
Last February, the City Council approved Tree Market LLC’s proposal to open a shop at 3 Mount Vernon St., but the company’s plans to seek a change in address to 212 Broad St. drew a split vote from the Recreational Cannabis Site Plan Review Committee last month.
The split vote from the subcommittee means there was not a favorable recommendation to the full City Council on the proposal, which could put a damper on the company’s plans to operate a pot shop in Lynn.
James Cowdell, Economic Development & Industrial Corporation of Lynn (EDIC/Lynn) executive director and James Lamanna, assistant city solicitor, both voted against the new location because they felt there could be a better use for the site, such as a residential development.
Starbard and Ward 5 Councilor Dianna Chakoutis both voted in favor.
The City Council could vote on Tree Market’s new proposal at their next meeting on Feb. 25.
