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Canton commission approves retail cannabis facility

By John Fitts

Staff Writer

CANTON – The Canton Planning and Zoning Commission on March 1 unanimously approved a proposed cannabis retail facility in the former Bank of America building at 195 Albany Turnpike.

Slap Ash, LLC, which plans to do business as Slap Cannabis, sought a special permit and site plan modification for the property from the Planning and Zoning Commission and after holding a public hearing over two nights – Jan. 18 and Feb. 21 – the commission approved the plan late in the evening on March 1.

“We’re really excited about the outcome,” said attorney Daniel S. Glissman of MacDermid Reynolds & Glissman, P.C., who represented the applicant during the project. “I can speak for my clients when I say they’re excited to become part of the business community here in Canton. [We are] grateful for the commission’s thoughtful deliberations. We really think it resulted in a good project.”

Primary access to the business is via Canton Valley Circle, which contains driveways to two businesses buildings on either side of the road just prior to the a residential portion of the street. As the name implies, that residential portion of Canton Valley Circle involves a loop with homes along it and in the middle island. Several of the residents were quite upset at the decision.

The business location is in the Canton Village Design Village District, where many businesses are allowed by “right” and a few by “special permit,” the later which requires that a project meet additional criteria and requires a public hearing.

The edge of the district in this area is along the residential properties.

“The commission willfully and knowingly approved this application where the pertinent zoning amendment failed to comply with Connecticut’s general zoning enabling act, disregarding procedural due process. The procedural due process requirements for adopting or amending zoning is based upon fairly straight forwarded principal and policies,” said Jordan Toussaint, a neighbor who was particularly involved in fighting the proposal and who, along with Dr. Arnold and Jill Goldman, even hired an attorney. “The commission willfully disregarded these principles. We plan to exhaust all options to have this approval overturned.”

One issue that residents have honed in on is separating distances from such a facility to schools, homes and houses of worship. The commission never adopted such language, but it was considered when the commission was working on its regulations last year. In recent weeks, a stamped, draft copy of the regulations with those separating distances was inadvertently given to a member of the public. While the commission put “on the record” that those distances were never adopted and apologized for the error, several of the Canton Valley Circle residents have suggested it’s an issue they believe is relevant.

Residents brought up numerous issues during the hearing, but certainly traffic was one that was discussed at length.

While the application team asserted “peak hour” traffic would be similar to a bank use – and contended that many other uses allowed by right would generate much higher traffic – residents contested many of the details of the traffic study and even presented some alternative findings – although the commission ultimately did not see those as compelling enough to deny the application, or find that the proposal would have a “significant” enough impact to warrant further scrutiny from the commission.

Some commissioner’s expressed sympathy for the concern of area residents but felt the opponents did not prove that traffic would be substantial enough to deny the application, particularly considering that many other high traffic uses would be allowed to occupy the site without a special permit.

The town has deemed Route 44 as its commercial corridor, commissioners also noted.

“When we set up our regulation, we debated and discussed how we were going to treat this use quite extensively,” said Commission chairman Jonathan Thiesse in speaking about the use. “We all came to a consensus that we felt it wasn’t significantly different from many other uses that were allowed – whether that be a small pharmacy, whether that be a package store, any other number of uses. [The commission determined] there was not the need to buffer this use in any way because we didn’t find it different enough. … As much as I can sympathize with some of the testimony, I find it hard, myself, to go back on that when that’s the way we looked at it.”

Thiesse also addressed impacts.

“We talked about headlights. We talked about any number of different impacts, and it all goes back to the same thing. I have a hard time finding any of those impacts that would not exist also with many of these other uses that are more intense, from a traffic standpoint... Again, it’s tough to single this use out as something that’s not appropriate.”

Sandra Trionfini noted the neighborhood concerns in her comments but also said other uses could be more intense in terms of traffic. She also noted that the parcel borders a residential area but is part of a commercial corridor.

“Other towns have realistically and reasonably isolated this use and made regulations around it regarding distances to residences,” she said. “We don’t have that and I think that is unfortunate perhaps, but we have identified 44 as our commercial area and I just don’t see how we can retract from that at this point.”

Slap Ash, LLC, is owned by Ashley Vaughn and Amanda Ostrowitz. While both list out-of-state addresses, Ostrowitz grew up in Glastonbury and Vaughn in Hartford, Ostrowitz told the commission on Feb. 21. She also expressed her excitement to do business in the community.

The building at 195 Albany Turnpike is approximately 3,042 square feet in size with 21 existing parking spaces. The commission accepted the applicant’s proposal to add five additional parking spaces. During the hearing, the applicant also offered that for the first two weeks of operation, the business would hire a traffic attendant, police officer and only accept pre-orders. The commission also imposed that stipulation, with language to extend that time period if necessary. The applicant also offered to post signage and install curbing to discourage patrons to enter the residential portion of the street. Additional screening is also planned, according to the application.

Another condition of approval was that the business must rectify cuing issues if the town’s police chief deems that backups onto Canton Valley Circle became a persistent problem during any particular days and hours of operation.

Planned dispensary hours as proposed are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The business hopes to open in the fall but Glissman acknowledged that a court appeal is possible with any zoning decision.

“Obviously a possibility just like any other zoning project,” he said when asked about the possibility. “We’ll have to deal with it as it comes. Again, we think the deliberations resulted in a really great project and we’re excited to move forward.”

The Canton GIS system image shows the subject site - in yellow - and the surrounding area.



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Valley Happenings

UPDATED:

Fighting Cancer Pasta Dinner:

Benefit for Avon Volunteer Fire Department

Deputy Chief Dave Theriault

Sunday, February 23, 2025, 3:00-7:00 p.m. 

Farmington Polo Club, 162 Town Farm Road, Farmington

 

AVFD Deputy Chief of Administration Dave Theriault is facing a tough battle against Stage 4 cancer. The AVFD, along with Tunxis Hose Co. No. 1 and the Farmington Fire Department, is holding a pasta dinner to help raise money for Chief Theriault’s medical expenses. Cheese and crackers from 3:00-4:00 p.m., buffet from 4:00-6:00 p.m., and coffee and dessert from 6:00-7:00 p.m. In addition to delicious food, drinks, and camaraderie, the event will feature dozens of raffle prizes. Event tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for seniors and children under 10 years old. They can be purchased at the door or online at www.HometownFoundation.org Contributions can be made via Venmo @supportDave or by mail to the AVFD at 25 Darling Drive, Avon, CT 06001. 

Canton Community Health Fund Applications

Canton Community Health Fund, Inc. Opens 2025 Application Season, on March 1, 2025, for Canton Community Partner Grants & Canton Scholars Pursuing Careers in Healthcare or Public Safety Canton Community Health Fund, Inc. (CCHF), opens its grant and scholarship application season March 1. CCHF encourages State of CT certified non-profits serving the Canton community to apply for Community Partner grants. In addition, graduating high school seniors seeking higher education in healthcare or public safety are invited to apply for either a Dr. Diters Legacy Scholarship or a Pay It Forward Scholarship. Applications and informative Fact Sheets are available online at www.cantoncommunityhealthfund.org.  Community Partner Grant and Scholarship awards will be announced in June/2025.

 

Avon Library events

AVON –The following events are scheduled at Avon Free Public Library. The library is at Avon Library, 281 Country Club Road, Avon. All programs are in person except where noted. For more information on adult programs, contact Adult Services Reference Desk via avonref@avonctlibrary.info 860-673-9712 x 7203

• Antique Map Collecting 101, Saturday, Feb. 1 at 1 p.m. Registration is required: https://www.avonctlibrary.info/event/antique-map-collecting/

• Morning Book Club. Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 10:30 a.m., The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose, Registration is required: https://www.avonctlibrary.info/events/tag/morning-book-club/

• Meditation for Balance and Inner Contentment. (Virtual Event) Thursday, Feb. 6 at 7 pm.

• Eastern Coyotes in Connecticut (Virtual Event) Thursday, Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m.

• Fashion and the First Lady (Virtual Event). Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 2 p.m.

• Hoop Skirts to Flappers: Eighty Years of Connecticut Fashion. Monday, Feb. 24 at 2 p.m.

• The Golden Age of Hollywood. (Virtual Event) Tuesday, March 4 at 2 pm.

 

Simsbury Lions Club

The Simsbury Lions Club is looking for people interested in volunteering and contributing to better our town. Our motto is “We serve,” and we do so by volunteering at local events and donating our proceeds to serving interests in our community.

If interested, please feel free to contact Sandy Kremer at Tprkremer@gmail.com or Philip Painchaud at painchaudp@gmail.com.”

 

Winter sowing workshop

The Farmington Land trust is hosting a winter sowing workshop focused on raising native plants. Make your own up-cycled greenhouse from a milk jug and prep some beneficial native plants for the coming growing season. Sunday, Feb 2 from 11a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Farmington Senior Center. RSVP here: https://www.farmingtonlandtrust.org/event-details/winter-sowing-seminar-native-seed-planting

 

Wild Flowers from Spring to Fall

CANTON – The Cherry Brook Garden Club is hosting a lecture on “Following Our Wild Flowers from Spring to Fall” on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 11 a.m. at the Canton Community Center, lower level, 40 Dyer Avenue. Steve Messier, Lichenologist and former Science teacher at Canton High School will discuss the topic. The lecture is open to the public. There is a $5 guest fee for non-members. Email questions to cherrybrookgardenclub@gmail.com.

 

‘Five Wishes’ at McLean

SIMSBURY – Join Kevin Baran, M.D., medical director, and the McLean Hospice Team for a special “McLean & Me Educational Series” presentation to learn how to talk about and record your wishes for care through the end of life, so those wishes can be understood and respected. The presentation will be held at McLean’s Garmany Performing Arts Center, 50 Sarah Lane, Simsbury, on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 6 p.m. The presentation is free but an RSVP by Feb. 4 is required as seating is limited. A light dinner will be provided.

To register, visit McLeanCare.org/Events, email Margaret.Clark@McLeanCare.org, or call 860-658-3718.

 

‘Art Throb!’ Exhibit

Gallery on the Green presents “Art Throb!” Exhibit plus a Solo Exhibit by Kathi Packer Friday, Feb. 14 through Saturday, March 15. An opening reception is on Saturday, Feb. 15 from 6-8 p.m. and will include refreshments. The show and reception are free.

“Art Throb!” is a heartfelt Valentine’s Day celebration presented by the membership of Canton Artists’ Guild. The artists use a wide range of media including painting, prints, drawing, photography, sculpture, ceramics and mixed media to represent the emotional intensity, joy and complexity of love.

In the upstairs Gallery, Kathi Packer has a solo show, “Another Tale.”  Packer notes that a friend’s casual invitation to go on safari in 2008 substantially changed the direction of her artistic journey.The gallery is located near the intersection of Dowd Avenue and Route 44 at 5 Canton Green Road in Canton. Hours are Friday – Sunday, 1-5 pm. The main floor gallery is handicapped accessible.

Website: http://www.galleryonthegreen.org; Phone:  860-693-4102

 

TABLESCAPES fundraiser returns to benefit the new

Avon History Museum

AVON – The Avon Historical Society invites the public to its sixth TABLESCAPES event showcasing up to 30 creative and original table settings on Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 15 at the historic North House, 1 Nod Road, Avon.

This event will feature themed table settings from local professional designers, florists, businesses, individuals, artists and others featuring fresh floral arrangements, centerpieces and accessories. Proceeds will benefit the installation of professionally curated exhibits in the new Avon History Museum scheduled to open on Friday, July 4, 2025.

Back by popular demand will be a “Table and Barware Tag Sale” on both days. Admission to TABLESCAPES includes the tag sale. Tickets are $20 each pre-sale and at the door. Tickets can be purchased online at www.avonhistoricalsociety.org or by calling Mary Harrop at 860-670-3225 before March 8.

Those interested in sponsorship opportunities can also call Harrop.

 

Alzheimer’s Support Group

FARMINGTON – Hearts, Hugs & Hope: An Alzheimer’s Support Group takes place Feb. 20, 2025, 6 p.m. at Farmington Station Assisted Living and Memory Care Community, 111 Scott Swamp Road, Farmington. Dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia isn’t easy, so it is helpful to share your concerns and personal experiences with others who completely understand what you’re going through. You will also learn about proven strategies to help you better care for your family member. This group is being offered both in person and via Zoom on the third Thursday of each month. If you plan to attend, contact Director of Compass Programming Katherine Jedynasty at kjedynasty@farmingtonslr.com.

 

Used book sale

AVON - A huge book sale will be held Feb. 28 and March 1 in St. Ann’s Church Hall, 289 Arch Road at Route 167.  Hours are Friday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. ($5 adult admission) and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (no admission fee).

Thousands of books will be organized in separate sections, including Fiction, History, Biography, Politics, Children, Music, Cooking, Sports, Art, Vintage, and more!  A large selection of Children’s books will be available.  Fiction books will be divided by hardcover, paperback, and trade paperback and sorted alphabetically by author.  DVDs, CDs, books on CDs, Vinyl records, and puzzles will be available, also.  Most books will be $3 or less with vintage and specialty books priced higher.

 

Daisy Days: All-Girls Summer Day Camp Experience

FARMINGTON – Miss Porter’s School, a renowned institution with a legacy of empowering young women, is excited to announce the launch of Daisy Days, an all-new day camp for girls entering grades 3-5 this fall. Starting this summer, Daisy Days will offer a unique, joy-filled experience designed to spark creativity, build confidence, and inspire self-discovery in an empowering all-girls environment.

For additional details, visit pcgl.porters.org/daisy-days.

 

Artist demonstration

Avon Arts Association will hold a guest artist demonstration featuring  Granby artist Laura Eden on Tuesday, February 18 at  Avon Town Hall, 60 W. Main St., lower level, at 6:30 p.m. Ms. Eden will demonstrate egg tempera painting.

The demo is free and open to the public ($5 suggested donation). A workshop with Ms. Eden will be held at the same location in the Avon Room on Saturday, Feb. 22, 10-2 with  set up at 9:30. Fee: $45 for members, $55 for nonmembers). www.AvonArts.org

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