PORT HURON — A sixth marijuana retail shop could be moving forward on Port Huron’s southside after all.
Just under a week since the city’s planning commission rejected plans for a cannabis establishment at 10th and Division streets, City Council members have reversed the decision.
City Manager James Freed cited potential legal challenges the city could face if the denial of the requested special use permit and rezoning of an attached parcel remained after the applicant sought to utilize a provisional marijuana license as prescribed in an ordinance approved by voters in 2020.
Councilman Jeff Pemberton, the commission’s council representative, also later referenced what he called “certain litigation that we would lose” had officials upheld the planning body’s decision despite concerns aired by some residents about the proposal.
One of nine planning commission members, Pemberton admitted he was not present at last Tuesday’s meeting when the marijuana shop’s requests were denied. Three others, he said, weren’t there either. He said he was surprised to later learn it was rejected and anticipated council’s action on Monday.
“It should been a simple thing,” Pemberton said. “Sometimes, I’ve noticed in different commission meetings, when it comes to a special use permit, there’s sometimes confusion … on what our role is in that.” Despite voters’ continued support of marijuana initiatives in years past, he added, “No one wants it right next door.”
Although permit applicant MS Industries, LLC, was not the original recipient named in early 2021 for the license at the site, 1814 10th St. — that was Portage Acquisitions — operators can transfer the license to another entity if they notify the city clerk’s office. Representatives of MS Industries have not returned messages seeking comment.
According to the operator’s plans, MS Industries looked to open up shop in the former bank building, while rezoning the adjacent parcel along Division to be used for parking. Layout materials refer to the establishment as Leaf and Bud Port Huron.
It was not clear when the location would open.
As of early this month, at least two marijuana shops — JARS Cannabis at Quay Street and Huron Avenue downtown and Moses Roses at 1600 Pine Grove Ave. — have opened up. The Exhibit at 1033 River St. has advertised opening up this week, while work has appeared ongoing with two other sites along Lapeer Avenue and 10th Street and at 515 Wall St.
“We now have four or five recreational marijuana stores in the city of Port Huron. We have not had a single issue,” Freed said Monday. “They run a very tight ship. We have not had crime issues. We have not had traffic issues. To be quite frank, I don’t know how they’re all going to survive. Some of them, I hardly see anyone in. It’s really not been the scary thing we all thought it was going to be. Pleasantly surprised. No issues with this.”
Contact reporter Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com .
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Council reverses planning board's rejection of permit for 10th Street marijuana shop
Most Popular
Comments / 0