City Inks Deals With Three Proposed Marijuana Shops Ahead of Tuesday Zoning Vote

(File photograph.)

Mayor James J. Fiorentini has signed host community agreements with three retail marijuana hopefuls. (File photograph)

After months of discussion and careful consideration, Haverhill is preparing to issue a final determination on retail marijuana zoning Tuesday night. Once that happens, the three companies that have negotiated host community agreements with Mayor James J. Fiorentini are free to schedule their public outreach meetings—the next step in their application process.

As WHAV previously reported, Stem, Full Harvest Moonz and CNA Stores inked agreements with Fiorentini last month ahead of Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Caroline Pineau already purchased real estate at 124 Washington St. for Stem, while Full Harvest Moonz—under the direction of Weymouth-based Janet Kupis—has her eye on a space at 101 Plaistow Road. Robert DiFazio, the CEO of Amesbury’s CNA Stores, intends to bring a store to the city’s 558 River St.

All agreements are valid for five years—with the city’s financial benefits among the terms outlined. All applicants have agreed to pay a Community Impact fee of three percent of gross sales annually for five years. An additional annual $25,000 payment must go to charity, the agreements stipulate. Full Harvest Moonz and CNA are letting the city choose a beneficiary, while Stem earmarks one-third of their donation for Emmaus and one-third for the Greater Haverhill Boys and Girls Club. The remaining one-third may go to a charity of the city’s choice.

Each business representative also agreed to donate 100 community service hours annually for activities including city-sponsored drug abuse prevention programs.

In the agreement, Fiorentini requires all applicants to conduct and submit traffic and parking studies and cooperate with the Haverhill Police Department on the implementation and periodic assessments of security measures.

As a public service, WHAV plans to carry Tuesday’s City Council meeting live starting at 7 p.m. only on 97.9 FM.