SPRINGFIELD — The owners of the Eastfield Mall on Boston Road have applied for a zone change for the vacant Macy’s store to pave the way for a proposed marijuana retail and cultivation business.
The city Planning Board will hold a public hearing July 17 at 6 p.m. at City Hall to consider the requested change from Business A to Industrial A. The city’s zoning ordinances require marijuana cultivation facilities to be within industrial zones.
The applicants are listed as 1685 Boston Road LLC and Eastfield Associates LLC, the corporate owners of the mall and Macy’s.
Cannaworld/Cannamunddo Inc. is proposing a retail store on the first floor of Macy’s and a cultivation/manufacturing facility on the second floor. The Planning Board will file a recommendation to the City Council, and the council would conduct its own hearing.
In March, a business representative said the marijuana facility would bring new life to the Eastfield Mall, new jobs and strong security.
Marijuana facility at former Springfield Macy’s would bring new life to Eastfield Mall, businessman says
Springfield businessman lauds marijuana facility at former Macy’s Store at Eastfield Mall, saying it will bring added foot traffic, jobs and expanded security.
The zone change request occurs as a city review committee is expected to soon recommend the selection of up to four companies to become the first marijuana businesses allowed to open in Springfield.
The recommendations, if approved by Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, will be invited to negotiate host community agreements with the city.
Any host community agreement needs approval from Sarno and the City Council, and will also need special permits from the council and licenses from the state Cannabis Control Commission.
The proposed zone change is for the Macy’s building at 1685 Boston Road, and to allow an access drive at 1655 Boston Road that serves the Macy’s property. The zone change is not for the rest of the Eastfield Mall site.
“In requesting a zone change to Industrial A, Petitioner will not be undermining the present use of the Eastfield Mall as a shopping center or its proposed redevelopment for mixed use; rather, instead, Petitioner’s proposed use will be in keeping with the retail and entertainment oriented purpose of the mall complex and its future mixed-used redevelopment” the request states.
The zone change will allow the company “to enhance the appeal of the mall as a shopping and entertainment destination at a time when retail opportunities are steadily contracting,” the ownership said.
The proposed zone change will also allow for the “revitalization and beautification of a currently underutilized space which had previously been occupied by an anchor tenant,” the ownership said.
Five city councilors led by Ward 5 Councilor Marcus Williams have urged the city to select at least one marijuana cultivation proposal in the first round.
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