By Melanie Petrucci, Senior Community Reporter
Shrewsbury – Town Manager Kevin Mizikar introduced two potential zoning bylaw changes to the Board of Selectmen at their Feb. 25 meeting that could appear on the warrant for Annual Town Meeting. The changes pertain to zoning for marijuana cultivation and the Route 20 Overlay District.
Regarding marijuana cultivation, Mizikar asked the board to consider expanding the footprint of the districts where cultivation would mirror where marijuana is manufactured and processed.
“When we set the initial boundaries, I think we were very limiting in where we allow cultivation facilities to be able to operate,” he stated.
The reasoning behind the zoning change is to allow for another level of economic development within the community. In addition, within the industry, no cultivation facilities are being constructed without having manufacturing and processing on-site.
Mizikar shared that he has had previous discussions with other retail establishments who all agreed that if there is going to be the desire in the community to have cultivation there must also be manufacturing and processing.
“I think this is a good idea relative to streamlining that process,” Selectman Jim Kane remarked.
Board Chair Maurice DePalo added that this change would not affect retail establishments.
Mizikar was given the go ahead to refer this to the Planning Board to be included in their public hearing process.
The second zoning bylaw change pertained to the Route 20 Overlay District regarding permitted density.
“It’s a little bit limiting and we are looking for the opportunity to provide some relief should an entity want to be able to develop an alternative model to what the Edgemere developer had proposed with regard to residential density,” Mizikar explained.
He also said that they will look to the board for some ideas on how to set limitations to the number of parking spaces and that they will continue to flesh out the details as they lead up to Town Meeting.
The board agreed to discuss this matter further at their next meeting to be held Tuesday, March 10, at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 100 Maple Ave.