At first banning them, 4 legal pot shops coming to Turlock. Find out where they’ll be
Three years after pot became legal in California, Turlock will see its first recreational marijuana dispensaries open this year.
Last May, the city — which had previously banned recreational cannabis sales, commercial cultivation and deliveries — took its first steps toward allowing dispensaries within its borders. Over the summer, the Turlock City Council approved a cannabis business pilot program for four dispensaries.
After receiving 32 proposals, city officials narrowed the field to its top four. Now those dispensaries are taking shape in at least two of the proposed locations, while sites for the other pot shops are still up in the air.
The four dispensaries moving forward are Firehouse at 1601 W. Main St., Perfect Union at 2500 N Golden State Blvd., Evergreen Market at 693 N. Golden State Blvd., and Natural Healing Center, which has not finalized a site yet.
Another dispensary, MedMen, had previously earned the fourth slot, but it dropped out of contention after selection.
Work is underway at the Firehouse, a dispensary opening in the old Waffle Shop restaurant site on West Main Street. The 4,625-square-foot building is in a high-profile location just off the West Main Street Highway 99 exit. The location is just south of the Days Inn by Wyndham and one block from Osborn Elementary School.
Firehouse is owned by Devin Stetler and Bert Sarkis, who through their The Premier Group, operate several weed dispensaries in the Central Valley. Their other shops include Phenos in Modesto, Patient Care First in Ceres, Flavors in Riverbank and Blue Fire in Merced.
Site plans submitted to the city include some exterior cosmetic improvements and landscaping. The Planning Commission approved the dispensary’s conditional use permit last week, making it the furthest along in the process of the four proposed projects.
A controversial location
But the site selection has not been without controversy. According to the Turlock Journal, parents of Osborn students, surrounding neighbors and other business owners voiced their objections to the location with the Planning Commission. Parents were particularly worried about having the shop so close to Osborn and its popular Two-Way Immersion Academy. The commission went on to approve its permit unanimously.
Turlock Deputy Director Development Services/Planning Manager Katie Quintero said tenant improvement plans must now be submitted to the building division for a building permit.
A second dispensary well on its way to receiving its conditional use permit is Perfect Union on North Golden State Boulevard in the former G&L Irrigation building. The planned dispensary sits between the Assyrian American Civic Club and Garton Tractor.
A sign is posted outside the gated-off location informing the public of plans to turn it into a retail cannabis shop. Representatives for the dispensary will go before the Planning Commission Feb. 6 for their conditional use permit hearing. Plans have been submitted to the city’s Building and Safety Division.
Perfect Union has existing weed retail shops in Sacramento, Marysville and South Lake Tahoe.
Quintero said the owners of a third dispensary, Evergreen Market, have requested their conditional use permit be put on hold. She said they are working out some issues with their proposed location in the former Fast Auto Loans on North Golden State. The building is in a retail center that also includes a dd’s Discounts and Rite Aid.
Evergreen’s owners operate five cannabis dispensaries in the Seattle area of their homestate of Washington. Quintero said she does not know if they are looking for a new location.
The final proposed dispensary, Natural Healing Center, was moved up after MedMen dropped out. Quintero said the owners have not submitted any information on their location yet, and are still working on securing a site. Once they do, Quintero said their development agreement and conditional use permit will be processed.
Natural Healing Center has a dispensary in Grover Beach in San Luis Obispo County. They are also in the process of opening shops in Lemoore, Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo.
Firehouse, Perfect Union and Evergreen Market have all had their development agreements approved by the Planning Commission and City Council. City Attorney Doug White has previously estimated cannabis businesses could bring in $2 million to $4 million in annual revenue to Turlock.
Quintero said there is no official opening information for any of the four dispensaries yet, but estimates they could open sometime between March and May.
