CommCann has secured a temporary lease at 255 Turnpike Road (just west of Volvo dealership) to host Southborough's 1st medical marijuana dispensary.

On April 16, 2014, Town Meeting approved by 2/3 vote a change to the zoning bylaw (Chapter 174-9(J)) that permitted medical marijuana facilities in Southborough. Town Meeting identified the Highway District (essentially, the property needs frontage on Route 9 in order to comply) as the location for these types of businesses, and be at least 500 feet from the property line of a school, daycare center or recreational facility. Some communities, such as Framingham, were not as proactive in zoning for such businesses. The bylaw further requires that any medical marijuana facility receive a special permit from the ZBA.

We actually don't understand how we are in this situation, particularly given the state of chaos that the Clifford/Deerfoot/Flagg Road are in and how destructive this chaos has been for long time loyal taxpayers and residents.  We have endured so much and we have an outstanding issue regarding the development of a very large scale 40B development behind Red Roof that will dramatically impact the volume of children and the safety of our children in this residential area.
 
This application suggests to position a medical marijuana dispensary just outside the 500ft area of Neary Elementary and Trottier Elementary schools. By my calculation, the distance from the back of that property to the walking path to Neary Elementary is ~900ft (UPDATE, it is 630 ft based on applicant's filing 1/29/16) poses significant risks to the safety of our children AND our upstanding community.  Additionally, school bus stops, including stops on Deerfoot Road and Clifford fall within 500 ft.  We do not see the benefit to our town of allowing a medical dispensary in this area when the proximity to our schools is so close.
 
This same company also filed in Hopkinton and were denied by unanimous BOS decision that the marijuana dispensary offered "no town benefit"  (http://www metrowestdailynews.com/ article/20151201/NEWS/ 151209168)
It is in our right as citizens of Southborough to DENY the applicant of support and special town permit to establish a medical marijuana dispensary.  In fact a dispensary was approved on Route 9 in Framingham and I would encourage that we defer to that location as the "Metrowest/Route 9" dispensary.
 
To our Board of Selectmen, we urge you to represent the residents of our town and to deny this applicant for this and any other location proposed in this school area.  

There is a Board of Selectment discussion on February 2nd that will support or deny this applicant. Signing this petition supports DENYING the Applicant and not allowing a medical marijuana dispensary at 255 Turnpike Road!  PLEASE SIGN and share with the Southborough, MA community before February 2nd!