<p>The West Tisbury zoning board of appeals has approved the Island’s first medical marijuana cultivation center, wrapping up a review process that began early this year.</p>
The West Tisbury zoning board of appeals has approved the Island’s first medical marijuana cultivation center, wrapping up a review process that began early this year and included approval by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission.
At its meeting last Thursday, the board voted unanimously to allow Geoff Rose, doing business as Patient Centric of Martha’s Vineyard, to share space in a building owned by Big Sky Tents that has yet to be built.
The board also voted unanimously to amend an earlier permit to account for changes to the proposed building at the corner of Pine Hill and Dr. Fisher Roads.
Mr. Rose had originally planned to locate both a cultivation center and dispensary in an existing 2,000-square-foot building at 505 State Road, but then changed plans when he learned the state would require an onsite testing lab. During review by the MVC, he dropped plans for a dispensary at the site, and the proposed building was reduced from 9,600 to 7,200 square feet.
Zoning board administrator Clare Harrington said the meeting last week, which included a public hearing related to the Big Sky Tents proposal, did not yield any new information.
“They had vetted this pretty thoroughly,” she said Wednesday, adding that the board had welcomed Mr. Rose’s decision to locate the dispensary elsewhere. “It certainly helped alleviate some of the neighbor concerns with the traffic and the noise, which was really one of the main gatherings from the commission hearings,” she said.
As a condition of the permit, Mr. Rose must limit company and employee vehicles to Old Stage Road, steering clear of a residential area to the east, with an exception for FedEx and UPS deliveries. The property will also be subject to annual inspections by the town fire chief, zoning inspector and board of health. And a $5,800 mitigation fee for affordable housing, as required by the commission, must be paid to the West Tisbury affordable housing trust, subject to commission approval.

Comments
Geoff! If you haven't named
Tom Hodgson WTGeoff! If you haven't named your place yet, how about "Ante Farm"? (Reason? It's "where the pot is always growing...")
congratulations Geoff!!
Emma schumann OBcongratulations Geoff!!
Looking forward to coming
Sarah Nevin EdgartownLooking forward to coming through your new door, congratulations.
I just want to go on record
Disgusted Martha's Vineyard, MassachusettsI just want to go on record as saying that due to the actions of the Selectmen to "approve" of both a medical marijuana dispensary and a marijuana cultivation facility, I will no longer even consider doing business with any vendor in West Tisbury for any commodity whatsoever.
If you're going to "go on
Willy WhitIf you're going to "go on record", wouldn't you want to use your name ?
I would like to go on record
Matt Morrell EdgartownI would like to go on record saying that close minded people like this aren't important enough to worry about. Good riddance! Nobody will be missing your business or opinions while we are all enjoying the new business generated by common sense laws and easy going vibes of an island that has many people in need of a big joint! Take a pill and relax. Life is SHORT! Almost everyone that you come into contact with is probably high already and it hasn't affected anyone negatively. People that actually take the time to write in and share their negative attitudes are half the problem with society. If you don't like weed, don't smoke it! You don't need to tread on my good times and the many years of unfair arrests and tickets over smoking a plant!
A more important point here
Alexis Anagnos Oak BluffsA more important point here is that this is a medical cannabis facility. Medical cannabis brings relief to patients for a wide variety of ailments without the negative, often life threatening, and frequently addictive side effects. If that offends you...you obviously need to be educated on the benefits of cannabis. I am quite certain that there is someone close to you who could, or already does find relief through this alternative treatment. Cannabis is a sacred plant that was gifted to us by our creator. The benefits that it can bestow upon humanity, and our environment are truly profound. Unfortunately, we have been lied to for 50 years and this plant has been demonized. But, you can’t stop the truth from leaking....and society is waking up to it. We are now living in blessed times.
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