Middletown seeks zoning exception to allow retail cannabis businesses in downtown district
MIDDLETOWN — City officials this week will consider a special zoning exception to allow retail cannabis outlets in the downtown business district.
Members of the Planning & Zoning Commission will meet Wednesday to discuss a request seeking to add cannabis retail to the B-1 zone as well as a text amendment that would modify the current special exception criteria, according to Middletown Land Use Director Marek Kozikowski.
The latter is intended to “in part, mitigate some of the concerns of adding it to the B1 zone and to bring it into more compliance with state statute,” Kozikowski explained.
The statute’s language has changed since Middletown approved such establishments two years ago.
Middletown’s one retail outlet, Venu Flower Collective at 895 Washington St. (Route 66), opened in July 2023. It is run by Westport-based Bluepoint Wellness.
The change would also address the local statute that disallows cannabis signs or storefronts on Main Street, the director added, as well as apply a distance requirement of 1,500 feet between the entrances of such businesses.
Recreational cannabis sales in Connecticut increased in August, hitting a new monthly high just shy of $18 million, while medical cannabis sales continue to slowly slide.
The previous monthly sales peak, $17.2 million, was reached in December.
Earlier this month, the city accepted $125,000 in revenue from the 3 percent municipal taxes from Venu.
