Nautilus Botanicals cannabis rejected
Zoning board says no, citing traffic and parking issues
STAMFORD — The Stamford Zoning Board has unanimously rejected a proposed second hybrid cannabis dispensary on East Main Street, citing parking and traffic concerns.
The board’s four regular members concurred on Monday night that a vacant retail building on the East Side was an inappropriate site for a cannabis dispensary. Nautilus Botanicals, a Bridgeport-based company, was looking to set up the city’s fourth hybrid retailer in a structure that was most recently a drive-thru grocery store.
Parking had been a primary concern of the board. There would have been six on-site spaces which is close to the neighborhood’s Interstate 95 exits. Another 10 spaces — some of which would have been used by employees — would have been located about 500 feet away.
“Given that it’s at the on and offramps for I-95 and it’s close to the borders of Darien and New Canaan, it’ll even increase further the number of cars who will be there wanting to park,” Chair David Stein said. “I think it will have a detrimental effect on the residential neighborhood around it.”
It was the board’s second time rejecting a proposed dispensary’s special permit this year. Board members denied Sweetspot on High Ridge Road in July, before settling a lawsuit with the company last month, allowing the business to open.
Connie DeBoever is a partner with Merida Capital, the private equity firm with whom Nautilus partnered on the proposal. She said the group is “disappointed in the decision” and did “not believe the (zoning regulations) were applied
fairly.” The partners are consulting with attorneys and “considering all of (their) legal options.”
According to the resolution, the proposal’s onsite parking fell short of the minimum number recommended by Stamford Chief Zoning Enforcement Officer James Lunney — Lunney recommended eight, the plan called for six.
DeBoever claimed Lunney’s recommendation was inserted into the record after the proposal’s hearing was closed, preventing them from having the opportunity to respond. She also criticized the city for “dragging out the process.” The group submitted its application in late June.
“Honestly, if the city was not supportive of cannabis, they really should have just said so, instead of allowing people like (Nautilus Botanicals CEO) Luis Vega, who’s a social equity applicant, to spend thousands of dollars on a deadend application,” DeBoever said.
The lack of on-site parking could lead to overreliance by customers on nearby street parking, which neighborhood residents use for their homes, the Zoning Board’s resolution said.
“I don’t think anyone will park 500 feet away,” board member Rosanne McManus said of the additional spots.
Another reason given for the rejection was traffic in the area surrounding the proposed dispensary, which borders a residential zone. The site has a one-way traffic flow — in from Standish Road and out onto East Main Street. Board members said the company’s traffic study did not consider the dispensary’s proximity to Route 1 and I-95.
“That intersection with people getting on and off (I-95) is so crazy from 3 o’clock in the afternoon to 6 o’clock at night, which I’m assuming is the busiest time of the retail operation,” McManus said. “I can’t support it.”
Stamford can approve five hybrid dispensaries, according to the board’s self-imposed regulations adopted in July. The rules limited Stamford to one recreational retailer for every 25,000 residents, and created distance requirements from all schools.
After Monday night’s decision, three of those five spots are taken — Fine Fettle Stamford on Research Drive, Curaleaf Stamford on East Main Street and Sweetspot on High Ridge Road. Sweetspot has yet to open.