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Date: 10/25/2022
NORTHAMPTON – On Oct. 20, Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra announced that she will not sign a host-community agreement with Euphorium LLC, which would have allowed the proposed cannabis establishment to locate at 143 N. Main St. in Florence.
Across two community meetings, the second of which occurred at Florence Civic Center on Sept. 7, Florence Village residents expressed opposition to the idea of a dispensary in their neighborhood, citing concerns about cannabis addiction, their suspected influence of cannabis on children and families in the area, as well as a belief that 12 dispensaries are more than enough. Others have wondered why Euphorium chose this particular location.
The shop, which is currently allowed by right in the Florence Village, would have been managed and owned by the father and son duo Marco and Richard Aranzullo, two longtime residents of Connecticut, while Blue Skies Unlimited affiliate and 20-year resident of Florence Ezra Parzybok would have been the consultant on the project. Parzybok is also a social equity applicant in Massachusetts; with over 35 successful state submissions of retail, cultivation, independent testing laboratory and manufacturing licenses, and has been a social advocate for medical cannabis since it became legal in the state a decade ago.
Sciarra noted in a statement that the overwhelming amount of feedback she received informed her view that a cannabis business at the proposed location is “not best for Florence’s future economic viability,” and noted how Florence center is undergoing rapid change with two blocks recently being sold and the loss of some long-standing businesses.
“I have heard from hundreds of people about what they don’t want at the main intersection in Florence and also what kinds of businesses they think would be great to have in Florence,” said Sciarra. “I encourage all who have been so vocal and engaged on this issue to use that remarkable energy to encourage or create the economic development they wish to see and then to be sure to support it.”
Under state law, cannabis entities must enter into Host Community Agreements with their respective municipalities before submitting their applications to the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) for license approval. Northampton’s city charter specifically grants power to the mayor to complete this agreement, if desired.
A state Supreme Court ruling last year upheld the right of municipalities to refuse to sign host-community agreements if there is a rational to the decision that is not “arbitrary or capricious.”
Sciarra said that she is offering to assist the owners with identifying alternate locations.
“I appreciate that the mayor broke her months-long silence on this issue and am well aware of the political gravity of the situation,” said Parzybok, in a statement to Reminder Publishing. “Regardless of whether it could be determined that the mayor is violating the ordinance or spot zoning in her decision, I feel she has made it clear she has respect for the cannabis industry and concerned citizens. As a resident, parent and business owner in Florence, the episode has inspired me to bring more cannabis education to communities in order to dispel one-sided opinions of this complicated plant held by parents, doctors and users alike.”
Despite the decision, Sciarra also expressed opposition to an idea being explored by the City Council imposing a cap on the number of cannabis retail establishments within the city.
“While I respect the process underway with the City Council to consider a cap, Northampton has been and should continue to be a city supportive of a well-regulated and equitable cannabis industry that expands our tax base,” she said. “Artificially constraining the cannabis market is unnecessary at a time when neighboring states – Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont – are entering the retail cannabis market, and applications for new Northampton licenses have already waned in the past two years.”