A new cannabis business proposed in Fairfax is facing skepticism from town officials and neighbors.
Element 7 has filed an application with the town to operate a dispensary and delivery service from a 5,000-square-foot building at 930 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
Founded in 2018, the company opened its first store opened in Fort Bragg. Employee Josh Black told the town the group is not a corporate chain, although part of the company merged with southern California-based Glass House Farms three months ago.
“We are not a national chain and we don’t use locals as a front,” Black said.
Linda Neal, a town planner, said the applicants have altered the business proposal based on local feedback, renaming the proposed shop “Fairfax Remedy” and changing some building details. Element 7 must sell standardized products from licensed growers. All products are sourced from state licensed distributors, the company said.
Robert DiVito, the chief executive officer, said the business has committed more than $50,000 to the project.
But some residents are opposed to the idea of the new business moving to town, and said they are concerned the family-run acai bowl eatery Mana Bowls could be pushed out of that location. A petition circulated opposing the proposal has garnered more than 570 signatures.
The Planning Commission reviewed the proposal on Sept. 16. More than 50 commenters emailed the commission, all expressing support for the eatery and opposing Element 7’s application.
“After all we have been through how could the Planning Commission or Town Council even consider allowing a situation in which one of our community members gets pushed out and has his business and his family’s livelihood compromised in favor of a chain? It’s unconscionable,” Fairfax resident Jessica Quiroz wrote.
Ed Tilton of Fairfax, who lives behind Mana Bowls, said, “Fairfax already has the pot store and the CBD store, I don’t think we need to be Marin’s ‘go-to’ location for cannabis.”
The commissioners agreed the proposal did not seem to meet the standards for community benefit, including being consistent with the downtown area and avoiding the potential to cause financial detriment to other businesses.
Commissioner Norma Fragoso noted the proposal’s value to the community is lowered with “the loss of a community-loved shop that has a place for people to hang out.”
Commissioner Brett Kelly was also concerned that the location and business type will create more traffic and be less of a gathering place.
Mimi Newton, the commission’s acting chair, noted that Mana Bowls has strong support but said due process must be followed before the town denies the application “for reasons that will hold up to scrutiny.”
The commission voted 3-2, with Newton and commissioner Robert Jansen against, to direct staff to prepare a resolution denying a recommendation to the Town Council. The item will be taken up again at the commission’s Oct. 20 meeting.
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