PINCKNEY — Construction of a cannabis retail store, growing and processing facility at the former Pinckney Elementary could resume later this year. But first, village officials need to reapprove final site plans.
Progress stalled at The Means Project after a legal dispute, resolved earlier this year, between father-and-son investors Ahmed and Michael Boomrod of The Means M.A.A.B. Partnership and Chris Bonk of B5 Contractor Services, as well as several subcontractors.
Bonk originally spearheaded the project, but is no longer involved following a court-ordered settlement.
On Monday, July 8, Pinckney Village Council voted 4-2 to grant The Means Project a one-year extension on a special land use permit at 935 M-36, allowing them to retain three marijuana business licenses. The licenses were set to expire in August.
Village President Linda Lavey and Councilmember Jeffrey Spencer were the dissenting votes.
"What guarantee do we have that this time around there won't be the problems you had the first time around, with the payments of contractors and such?" Spencer asked presenter Jacob Kahn, an attorney for The Means Projects.
"Management has now shifted to the individuals that were financially funding it from the beginning," Kahn said.
"I think there were initial budget projections that were vastly exceeded and by millions of dollars, so I think that was part of the issue," he said. "They have now brought in a contractor that has prior experience in commercial facilities, as well as cannabis facilities, so we're going to get a fixed number we'll be held to as the maximum price."
"They have too much money invested in this to let it fall through," he added.
According to court records, Bonk argued the Boomrods stopped funding property improvements in early 2023 and failed to pay B5, so that B5 could pay outstanding balances to subcontractors and trade services to the tune of about $1.3 million.
Terms of the settlement included Bonk resigning as manager, resolution of the payment disputes by the Boomrods, and a payment to Bonk of more than $332,000.
Kahn said the design of the building will remain the same but there is a possible change — to open the retail store first and use revenue to finish the grow and processing facility.
"The fastest way to do it would be to get the dispensary open first with a firewall separating while the rest of the work continues," Kahn said.
Spencer expressed doubts.
"If the dispensary opens, what’s the guarantee you wouldn’t just stop there?" he asked.
"You’re changing the plan," Lavey said, "because the (original) plan was to have everything done."
Kahn told The Daily moving forward "wouldn’t be contingent on that."
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The Means Project must also tackle a water main challenge, and whether ownership of a couple of acres of property will be transferred to the village to extend Pinckney Cemetery.
Kahn told The Daily he expects to have a more solid timeline for completion by August. Council is expected to vote on final site plans on Aug. 19, but they'll first go before the planning commission.
The Means Project was the first marijuana business to receive approval in Livingston County. Another project, Essence, was proposed last year in Pinckney, on vacant land at 1268 E. M-36 between Wendy's and Taco Bell.
— Contact reporter Jennifer Eberbach at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com.
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