Fairfax poised to accept applications for 2nd marijuana store
Fairfax will begin accepting applications for a second marijuana retailer next month.
The Town Council approved the application process Wednesday after it passed an ordinance in August that allows two marijuana retail businesses to operate in town. An existing Fairfax marijuana store, the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana, which opened in 1997, fills one of the two slots.
The Marin Alliance, at 6 School St., operates a brick-and-mortar shop that sells exclusively to medical marijuana patients. It also operates a delivery service that sells to recreational cannabis users.
“I think there will be a lot of applicants,” said Nurit Raphael, who owns the San Rafael cannabis delivery service Ona.Life and founded the Marin County Couriers Association, which advocates for cannabis delivery businesses. “A cannabis retail spot anywhere in Marin would be very sought after.”
Raphael, who was also awarded a license to operate a medical marijuana delivery service in unincorporated Marin County, said she may apply for a Fairfax license.
Fairfax’s cannabis regulations allow medical marijuana storefronts and recreational cannabis delivery services, or businesses that combine the two. Walk-in dispensaries can’t be located within 600 feet of schools, or within 300 feet of preschools, daycare centers or tutoring businesses. Delivery service businesses must be at least 250 feet from schools and other youth centers.
Mayor Barbara Coler said the limitations on where the businesses can be located will likely reduce the number of applications.
In Fairfax, which is only 2.2 square miles, “there aren’t that many locations available,” Coler said.
According to Raphael, it can also be difficult to secure permission from property owners to operate cannabis businesses.
“It’s definitely hard to find the right landlord,” she said. “It could be like trying to find a needle in a haystack in terms of who’s going to let you operate.”
The town will accept applications for the available cannabis retail permit between Nov. 1 and Jan. 6. Applicants will be charged a $2,000 fee “to cover staff time and any required outside professional fees,” plus an additional 20% administrative overhead charge, according to a staff report.
When the application window closes, applicants will be evaluated and scored based on a list of criteria. Points will be awarded based on factors including the applicants’ business plans, industry experience and plans for on-site parking and traffic flow.
According to the approved application process, each application will first be reviewed by the town’s Planning Commission during a public hearing. Commissioners will award scores to each of the applicants. The Town Council will then hold a public hearing to review the applications that receive more than 80 points based on the scoring criteria. The council can award applicants up to an additional 10 points. The applicant with the highest score will be awarded a license.
“We tried to make it simple and easy and I think we achieved that,” Coler said.
Applications will be accepted Monday through Thursday at the Planning and Building Services Department at Fairfax Town Hall, 142 Bolinas Road.