Cloudy with occasional rain showers. High near 40F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..
Cloudy with occasional rain late. Low 38F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Updated: December 16, 2024 @ 12:18 pm
TEWKSBURY — The Tewksbury Select Board met on Nov. 12, 2024 to review a retail marijuana license application for Route 133 Cannabis LLC at 1625 Andover St. Owner Dean Graffeo and consultant Caitlyn Woodward-Samson of operating partner Gold Star Consulting appeared.
The site was approved by the Planning Board in February. Graffeo previously asked to withdraw his application without prejudice, which the board accepted in a 5-0 vote. Graffeo’s request came after a lawsuit was filed on Feb. 19 in Plymouth Superior Court by Cannavana Inc. of Rockland, alleging a breach of contract by individuals involved in cannabis retail concerns in Tewksbury.
Graffeo said the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, and the proposal before the board remained the same as it had been presented earlier in the year. He said the business could open in 10-12 months and is planning to apply to the state Cannabis Control Commission.
Graffeo also discussed traffic flow and plans to hire parking lot attendants. Woodward-Samson said that deliveries will be timed and staggered, and the company can be reactive to traffic by shutting down online orders at certain times to reduce vehicle counts.
A vegetation field and fence will provide some landscaping and shield the building from the street; cannabis imagery is prohibited by the CCC.
Graffeo and Woodward-Samson also reviewed the security plan for the site; there will be cameras inside and outside of the facility, and age verification will happen at the door. Woodward-Samson added that if windows are broken, a notification will be sent immediately to the police department, and panic buttons will be installed at every employee station to alert police with a silent alarm.
The board opened the meeting up to public comment. Kevin Ahern, owner of Aroma Joe’s near the parcel, sent a letter in support of the project. Shannon Doherty of the Learning Experience, an adjacent parcel, reiterated her concerns about the preschool being located next to a marijuana retailer.
An attorney for Brad Tosto, co-owner of Sundaze Dispensary whose application for a retail marijuana license was denied by the board in March, appeared and noted that the company is “pursuing litigation against the town to preserve its right to a fair and equitable licensing process.”
He further claimed that Graffeo lacked cannabis experience and the location was less suitable than the proposed Sundaze location at the old Sal’s Pizza on the Wilmington line.
The board voted to continue the discussion to the next meeting on Nov. 26 to give the applicant time to respond to questions raised by members.
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