Akron City council approves dispensary in Merriman Valley at vacant CVS – Akron Beacon Journal
After a long and winding road, Firelands Scientific will be opening a marijuana dispensary called The Landing in Akron’s Merriman Valley in a former CVS.
Council approved the conditional use permit 8-5 at a special Jan. 29 meeting. Council members Bruce Bolden, Linda Omobien, Johnnie Hannah, Eric Garrett and Phil Lombardo voted no.
“How can we as elected officials not act on residents’ concerns and wishes,” said Ward 5 representative Hannah. “My concern is the traffic and the children in that neighborhood.”
“For me, I have to represent their [residents’] views and that’s what I was elected to do, so I’ll be voting no,” said Ward 8 representative Bolden.
About 25 residents attended the meeting to discuss the dispensary planned for 1140 West Portage Trail.
The one-story building has roughly 10,700 square feet of floor space, about 3,000 of which Firelands plans to use; other retail tenants would use the remaining 7,700 square feet.
The Waters Edge Condominiums are behind the former CVS. Jennifer Konstand, who lives at Waters Edge, said traffic is already dangerous.
“I can’t even imagine what it would be like with 250 cars every day coming through our neighborhood and our neighborhood has no sidewalks,” she said.
Council convened the Jan. 29 meeting because its Jan. 26 meeting was conducted virtually due to a snowstorm, and council wanted to give people a chance to speak in person.
This is Firelands Scientific’s second attempt at opening a dispensary in Akron. The first plan — a store in Highland Square — was unpopular with people living near the proposed site. Firelands pivoted instead to obtaining a permit to operate in the Merriman Valley, where officials again met stiff opposition.
Many residents on Jan. 29 pleaded for the council to vote against the dispensary, citing concerns with traffic and their misgivings about a cannabis dispensary.
“I want my baby to go out and play with kids and feel safe. I am the type of resident that you want here to invest in your community and I do pay taxes,” said Akron Public Schools teacher and mom Katrina Dunn, who said she lives up the hill from the Merriman Valley.
“I have been in the Merriman Valley for 15 and a half years … I won’t stay,” Akron-Peninsula Road resident Lisa Russell said.
Jesse Gannon, general counsel for the dispensary, acknowledged that people may have differing opinions on legalized marijuana. But he disputed claims that the Landing will hurt property values and said Firelands Scientific is eager to be involved in the community.
“Let us invest in the neighborhood,” Gannon said. “Let us repurpose a building that’s currently sitting empty.”
Council member Fran Wilson, who represents Ward 1, where the building sits, believes the Landing will be an asset. Wilson said residents’ concerns about safety and traffic have been heard, and Firelands will be held accountable.
Contact reporter Alisson Toro-Lagos at atorolagos@gannett.com. Contact reporter Derek Kreider at DKreider@Gannett.com or 330-541-9413.