WHATELY — Longstanding plans to open a retail marijuana dispensary at the former Sugarloaf Shoppes seem to be moving forward, albeit under different leadership.

At a recent Selectboard meeting, Nectarize owner Pathik “PJ” Patel and attorney Phil Silverman presented plans to buy the company that currently owns the site, ToroVerde III LLC. If everything goes according to plans, the marijuana dispensary will open in the red building at the former Sugarloaf Shoppes by the end of the spring.

Silverman, who represents Nectarize, explained ToroVerde’s host community agreement with the town should transfer over since ToroVerde will continue to hold the Cannabis Control Commission license, the special permit and the host community agreement, although the CCC license and special permit may need to be renewed.

“It’s not clear to me if we’re transferring interest in the host community agreement; what’s happening here is an ownership change. We wanted to be out in the open and disclose to the town what’s going on,” Silverman said, adding their proposed timeline is at the “mercy of the CCC.” “The hope is, if we can proceed here, we would basically be opening in May of 2023.”

Patel is also seeking approval to acquire dispensaries in Northampton and Greenfield, according to Silverman.

Despite receiving special permit approval in 2019, ToroVerde has yet to open a dispensary at the former Sugarloaf Shoppes. Its host community agreement has been extended twice by the Selectboard and it has been steadily working on renovating the interior of the building.

Planning Board member Judy Markland said Nectarize will need to appear before the Zoning Board of Appeals again due to Whately’s bylaws concerning ownership changes.

Silverman said there may be some “minor changes to the floor plan,” but nothing that should impede its appearance in front of the ZBA.

“It’s really a turnkey. It’s pretty much ready,” Silverman said. “I don’t see any major changes.”

Selectboard Chair Joyce Palmer-Fortune said she had “no objections” to the sale of the business and the board approved the transfer of the host community agreement.

“I have no reason to stand in the way … of someone getting a business going that we’ve been waiting a long time on,” Palmer-Fortune said. “Especially in the Sugarloaf Shoppes,” which are near Exit 35 on Interstate 91, an area the town is targeting for economic development.

 

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