Strategic partner Erik Williams speaks with Kate Phelon about planned marijuana dispensary as partners Neel Patel, Chand Patel and Jay Dev Patel listen. (Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD – A retail marijuana establishment seeking to open a dispensary at 14 Coleman Ave. hosted a community outreach meeting on Wednesday in the Westfield Athenaeum, minus the community, with the exception of Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kate Phelon.
Phelon was the only member of the community to meet with the dispensary owners during the meeting, which took place during Wednesday’s tornado watch.
Ganesh Wellness strategic partners Erik Williams and Megan Sanders, who have experience in the industry in Colorado and who are working on permits for retail establishments in West Boylston and Salisbury, along with partners Jay Dev Patel, Chand Patel and Neel Patel of Connecticut, presented plans for a small family-run business in Westfield. Phelon had previously met with the Patels.
Williams said the community outreach is part of the Cannabis Control Commission’s process in seeking a license. Letters were sent to abutters, to the Planning Board, and the meeting was publicized as an opportunity to answer questions about the business plan. Williams said the final plan for the business, tentatively named Whip City Wellness, will be submitted to City Planner Jay Vinskey this week.
The Patels, who have been in business since 1997 in Connecticut, running a gas station, convenience store and Dunkin’ Donuts, said they have experience selling controlled substances, including tobacco, beer and gasoline.
“We’ve always been good neighbors,” said Chand Patel, adding that they are not looking for a short term relationship with Westfield, but are likely to become a part of the community.
Jay Dev Patel said they have made several visits to Westfield, and like the setting. “It’s a good town, I’m telling you,” he said.
Williams said the planned store will offer a full line of products purchased from various Massachusetts manufacturers, including a variety of strains of flowers in pre-packaged sizes, topicals, vapes and cartridges, and edibles.
“Everything at the Ganesh location will be pre-packaged,” Williams said, adding that the 1,500 square-foot location does not allow for on-site packaging or processing of materials.
Zoning for the location was changed last year on an 11-1 vote by the City Council from Business B to Industrial A, the only zone which allows for retail marijuana, following a negative recommendation by the Planning Board due to the proximity to a residential neighborhood and schools. Owner Kimberly Betts of Betts Plumbing at the same location, said at the time there was interest in the site by a marijuana establishment.
Neel Patel, son of Chand Patel, said the location does comply with the 500 -oot buffer zone from schools. He said they would be moving into an existing building. Security measures would include requiring three steps to check identification for purchases, and all packaging would be child-proof and labelled for adult use.
“We will educate adults on safe storage,” Neel Patel said, adding that no advertising would be targeted towards children. He said that they would work with the local police department on security, and give preference to local contractors and service providers, and would plan on hiring local employees.
