Efforts for Westland to become a major target in the cannabis industry took another step this month.
A third marijuana business, planned on the north side of Cherry Hill west of Newburgh, recently received recommendations from the city’s planning commission for land use and a special site plan.
The business, which will be a mixed-use facility containing retail space for medicinal and recreational cannabis, will be located on the property near Hush Haunted Attraction and The Legendary Axe bar.
“We’ve been working on this project for a while, we’re excited to pump millions of dollars into this project and I think we’re going to bring a first-class building to the front of the project,” he said. Paul Weisberger, one of the petitioners and LJA Holdings. “We will employ in the neighborhood of 60 to 100 employees, depending on how busy we are to begin with.”
The building will include on-site retail, growing and processing operations. In order to comply, the development has several requirements that the city government wants as part of the recommended approval, including compliance with the city’s tree ordinance, submitting an odor control plan and more.
Another issue raised by Commissioner Deanna Adams-Stachow is the location of handicapped spaces in the proposed plan. The space designated in the plan is farther from the door, and given that the facility will offer medical marijuana, he said the space could better serve customers if it were closer.
“I would like to propose that the disabled area … be moved to the front of the building, where it will be to the closest entrance where customers will come so that they have short access to your front door,” he said.
With the unanimous recommendation of the planning commission, the item now goes to the city council for a final decision on it.
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The cannabis business is the latest to appear before the city’s planning commission for jobs. The city initially OK’d an ordinance a few years ago allowing a specific number of marijuana businesses, including one across the street from this location on the south side of Cherry Hill and another near Joy and Inkster.
That proximity made some commissioners question whether two businesses so close together would affect business. Weisberger said he does not believe it will, because he has a good relationship with other companies.
He said, if anything, it will give customers better choices and promote healthy competition.
“I think it’s going to be a great experience for people looking for quality cannabis in the greater Westland area,” he said.
Contact reporter David Veselenak at dveselenak@hometownlife.com or 734-678-6728. Follow him on Twitter @davidveselenak.
