Plans to convert 112 Mohawk Ave. into the first cannabis dispensary in the village of Scotia were tabled Monday. The project is expected to be discussed by the Village Board of Trustees later this month.
Plans to convert 112 Mohawk Ave. into the first cannabis dispensary in the village of Scotia were tabled Monday. The project is expected to be discussed by the Village Board of Trustees later this month.
SCOTIA — Two years after Scotia officials moved to allow cannabis-related businesses to open in the village, a proposal to operate a dispensary along Mohawk Avenue has been brought forward.
Jacob Koehler is hoping to convert the vacant building at 110 Mohawk Ave. into Scotia Flower — a cannabis growing, processing and retail facility, which would be the village’s first dispensary if plans are approved.
The building sits in the heart of the village next to the Scotia Diner, and just a short walk from the intersection with Ballston Avenue — one of the busiest intersections in Scotia.
Koehler’s family, which once operated Scotia Motors, owns the Scotia Diner and adjacent buildings at 106-110 Mohawk Ave. that are home to a number of small businesses, including Town and Country Skateboards and Weirdo Comics and Collectibles. The property at 102 Mohawk Ave. is also owned by Koehler’s family and is in the process of being converted into a restaurant.
The village’s Planning Board reviewed site plans for the proposed dispensary on Monday, where Koehler explained he is hoping to secure a microbusiness license that would allow him access to different portions of the state’s fledgling cannabis industry which has been stalled by litigation in recent months but is expected to begin moving forward again next year.
Koehler’s application remains pending with the state.
“There’s still a lot to be determined in terms of what details of the facility itself — what’s needed and what’s required by the state — and those things are not readily accessible,” Koehler said. “This is just an application to make sure that the village is on board and to present an initial vision for a cannabis-based business in the village.”
Scotia lawmakers ultimately decided to opt in to allowing cannabis dispensaries and on-site consumption facilities back in 2021 — just months after the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act was approved.
The state law legalized cannabis use for adults 21 and over, and established a framework for cannabis sales moving forward.
Since then, the first Capital Region dispensary has opened on upper Union Street in Schenectady, and three other dispensaries have been approved in Saratoga Springs. Schenectady planners tabled a proposal to convert an old bank building on Eastern Parkway into a dispensary last month.
Plans for the 8,784-square-foot facility currently call for around 600 square feet of retail space in the front portion of the building along Mohawk Avenue and separate growing and processing facilities towards the rear.
The store would share a parking lot with the Scotia Diner, though Koehler said during the meeting that he would be amenable to changing the layout of the building if planners felt parking in the rear would be more appropriate. Koehler noted he is working with an architecture firm that has previously designed facilities for the cannabis industry.
“I’m flexible around a lot of things,” he said. ”The thing I don’t want to have is a big line of people standing out in front of Mohawk Avenue.”
Planners also raised concerns about odor emanating from the building, which Koehler said would be addressed using carbon filters and that there should be “no detectable odor” coming from the facility.
Traffic along John Street, a narrow roadway that runs behind the proposed facility, was also discussed. The village is considering making the street a one-way corridor, though those plans are still under discussion.
Village planners ultimately tabled the proposal, citing a lack of state regulations and the need for village trustees to review the proposal and discuss possible zoning regulations.
“We need to see what the requirements are coming from the state and understand the building layout, parking and John Street and whatnot,” said Planning Board member Eric Buskirk.
As part of his application, Koehler filed a Notification to Municipality, which gives the village an opportunity to weigh in on the proposal and submit any feedback on the proposed site to the state. The information will be considered by the Office of Cannabis Management when deciding whether to issue a license.
Mayor David Bucciferro said Monday that he has yet to thoroughly vet the plans for the business, but said that department heads are reviewing the proposal and a discussion on the matter by village trustees will take place later this month, ahead of the state’s Dec. 29 deadline. The town has already applied for and received a 30-day extension to review the proposal.
“We’ll have an answer by the end of the month,” he said.
It’s unclear if the village will move to adopt any additional zoning regulations now that a dispensary has been proposed.
But, Trustee George Solotruck, a liaison to the Planning Board, said Monday that he doesn’t believe any additional zoning regulations are needed.
“We have been talking about it, for sure, and I don’t think, in my understanding, that there isn’t any change in zoning for that area and there isn’t any change in village code, as long as the state’s requirement for separation between churches, daycares and schools is met,” he said.
Cannabis-dispensaries are required to be at least 500 feet from schools and 250 feet from places of worship, according to state guidelines.
Solotruck said he’s in “full support” of the business and the additional tax revenue it would bring to the village, and commended Koehler for working with professionals to develop a streamline application.
“As long as it fits in the municipal guidelines as far as zoning is concerned, and they meet all the separation requirements that the state requires and any other things that we become aware of, I think that will be a great opportunity for the board to give a positive approval,” he said.
Contact reporter Chad Arnold at: carnold@dailygazette.net or by calling 518-410-5117.
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