SAUGUS — Uma Flowers on Wednesday became at least the fourth company to host a community outreach meeting — a requirement of all dispensary applicants — showing the town what, exactly, it would look like if it were to open its doors at 24 Broadway and sell recreational marijuana.
The meeting was held inside the Saugus TV studio on Main Street and moderated by Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano, who led the charge to amend the town’s zoning bylaws to allow for dispensaries last year. Uma Flowers, founded by two minority women from Waltham, already owns and operates a dispensary in Pepperell, with facilities set to open in Lunenberg, Athol and Morristown, New Jersey, later this year.
Attorney Valerio Romano, a co-author of the ballot initiative that ended cannabis prohibition in Massachusetts, led the meeting, walking those watching through the company’s background before explaining the nuts and bolts of the Saugus proposal. The studio was almost entirely empty Wednesday evening, with this reporter serving as the lone audience member.
Romano emphasized the security of the proposed facility, noting that former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis serves as director of security and emphasizing the positive feedback the company received from both the town administrator and police chief in Pepperell. Davis explained that the security at the proposed facility would “go beyond” the Cannabis Control Commission’s regulations for dispensaries and that former secret service agents would be brought in to aid in the development of a plan.
Uma Flowers, Romano explained, hopes to construct a 3,500-square-foot facility with 27 parking spaces. Entrants will have their identification checked before making their way into the dispensary itself and again as they go to check out.
The company’s current facility is a “really gorgeous clean store,” Romano said, and it plans to bring that same look and feel to Saugus.
“That’s one of the nice things about having this use is it really looks almost like an Apple Store. It’s really sharp,” he said. “One of the things that’s nice about this use for any city or town that is fortunate enough to host one is that it’s great revenue for the town, but it also really improves whatever retailer was there before. This is a nicer retailer, whether it’s the facade on the outside or the inside.”
The 24 Broadway location is compliant with all of the town’s zoning regulations, Romano said, as it is located in the Business Highway Sustainable District and sits more than 1,000 feet away from the nearest school.
The facility would be strictly retail, Romano explained. No on-site consumption would be allowed unless the town were to approve it at a later date. He also emphasized the company’s role as a community partner in Pepperell, where they have donated to local charities and held informational sessions for residents. Uma Flowers hopes to do the same in Saugus, he said.
Uma Flowers is “an incredibly tight operation,” he said, and presents “no nuisance to the community.”
“It’s clean. It’s well-regulated. There’s cameras everywhere,” Romano said.
If the proposal is approved, the company will provide the town with 3 percent of revenue and additional Host Community fees, Romano said, and will bring at least 12-20 full-time jobs to the town, with local residents being prioritized in hiring.
Cogliano, who has moderated several other community outreach meetings, said he was impressed with the company’s presentation.
“Everyone here is very impressive. Your presentation was great. You certainly have credibility here. We don’t have Ed Davis walking into town all the time,” he said.
The community outreach meeting represents the first step of many for dispensaries seeking to open in Saugus. The outreach meetings are required by the Cannabis Control Commission to apply for a license, and applicants must complete a Request for Information issued by Town Manager Scott Crabtree before meeting with his office. Only then can they go before the Board of Selectmen to apply for an S2 permit to open their doors in Saugus.
Only three dispensaries will ultimately obtain permits, as that is the number currently zoned.
A community outreach meeting for another company seeking to open at 1529 Broadway is slated for Jan. 25.
