GARDINER — The Planning Board at its meeting Tuesday night gave unanimous approval for the operator of four of Maine’s eight medical marijuana dispensaries to move its Hallowell dispensary to the former train station on Maine Avenue in Gardiner.
Wellness Connection of Maine, also with dispensaries in Portland, Brewer and Thomaston, plans to lease the nearly century-old building along the Kennebec River as a dispensary and to make edible marijuana products.
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Patricia Rosi, CEO of Wellness Connection of Maine, said at the meeting that the company is moving to Gardiner because it needs a larger, more accessible location for its patients. She said the company is looking forward to taking part in revitalization of the city’s downtown and occupying the building that’s been vacant for more than a decade.
The board approved the application with a few conditions, including that the signs meet any National Register of Historic Places conditions, if necessary, and that the city receives a signed copy of the lease agreement with the building owner.
A few residents spoke against the proposal at the public hearing because they object to a medical marijuana dispensary going into the historic building.
“It’s not a place for the community,” said Gayle Warren, of River Avenue. She said she was hoping the building would be used for something that everyone in the city can use.
The former train station was built in 1911 and was last used by the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Gardiner for two years until 2003, when the group moved to its current location, the former elementary school on Pray Street.
The board was scheduled to review the proposals last week but was forced to postpone the discussions after convening because only three members could make it.
Paul Koenig — 621-5663
Twitter: @paul_koenig
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