Pittsfield Council Amends Cannabis Ordinance, Celebrates PHS Athletes
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Following a lawsuit settlement, the City Council has unanimously voted to eliminate the cap of 35 recreational cannabis businesses allowed in Pittsfield.
The zoning amendment aims to eliminate potential conflict between a forthcoming city ordinance that will address equity and Host Community Agreement policies.
"What we've got in front of you is a really narrow zoning amendment to remove language from Section 7.850 regarding the number of retail cannabis businesses allowed in the city," Community Development & Housing Program Manager Nate Joyner told the council on Tuesday.
"We're doing this in advance of changing policies around Host Community Agreements and we want to eliminate any potential conflicts in the ordinance."
The Community Development Board voted to become the petitioner in March so that it could move forward. This was the second and final public hearing for the change.
Last month, the council approved a $786,000 refund to three local cannabis dispensaries for allegedly "unreasonable" Host Community Agreement fees, a lawsuit that has popped up around the state.
Temescal Wellness received $360,375, Berkshire Roots $341,000, and Bloom Brothers $85,250 as legal settlements for the repayment of a portion of fees collected between fiscal years 2019 and 2022.
Officials report that Pittsfield has so far gotten the "best deal" in the state, representing a 77.5 percent reimbursement.
The existing zoning requirements were established in 2017 and, last year, the state Cannabis Control Commission approved changes to the state's adult and medical use regulations including policies that implement the agency's oversight of host community agreements, new equity requirements, and suitability reform.
HCAs must now be "reasonable," meaning that conditions can be required under local regulations, necessary for public health, and imposed on non-cannabis businesses. The new regulations also address impact fees, stipulating that the host community cannot collect them if the license is held for more than nine years.
The meeting was less than a half hour, with the most time spent on proclamations for the Pittsfield High School baseball and softball teams and a certificate of recognition to PHS student Jake Bassi.
The baseball team persevered to become the 2024 Western Mass Champion, ending the season with a 20-6 record. This is the first Western Mass title earned by the school's baseball team since 2004. The team also competed in the state championship for the first time since 2004.
The softball team was the 2024 Western Mass Champion, ending the season with a 21-4 record. This is the first Western Mass title earned by the Pittsfield High School softball team since 2018. The team also competed in the state championship for the first time since 2004.
Bassi was recognized for competing in the Massachusetts Summer Special Olympics at Harvard University on June 8 and earning gold medal in the standing long jump and silver in the softball throw.
City officials and the students gathered in front of City Hall for photos beforehand.
The council also approved a request from Verizon New England and Eversource to move a jointly owned pole by 15 feet on East Street to accommodate an electric line upgrade and to provide for the distribution of intelligence and telecommunications and the transmission of high and low voltage electric current.
Referred the to Traffic Commission were requests to amend regulations at the intersection of Dawes Avenue with Edward Avenue and Revere Parkway and to extend 90-minute free-parking zone on the west side of South Street.
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