Special planning commission meeting to discuss parking Wednesday
BIG RAPIDS — Area residents may have one more name to add to their list local marijuana establishments in the future, as an unknown source plans to address the Big Rapids Planning Commission on Wednesday night.
“The applicant requested a special meeting, and it was approved by the commission,” Big Rapids Director of Neighborhood Services Paula Priebe said. “They applied for a site plan review to develop a new parking lot at 810 Clark St.
“I believe they intend to use the building (beside the parking lot) as a marijuana store, and then the parking lot would be to support that use.”
Though Priebe could not release the name of the incoming business at this time, the applicant’s name on the site plan review is 804 Clark St. Investments, LLC.
According to the staff report provided by Priebe to the planning commission, the company purchased the property, at 804 Clark St., in 2019, with the intent of turning the building into a marijuana retail store.
Whether the store will be offer medical or recreational products is not yet known.
The establishment sits beside the city’s Little Caesars pizza place.
“I’ve also been a little surprised by the amount of interest in opening marijuana businesses in Big Rapids,” Priebe said. “To date, the companies that I’ve communicated with have all been very interested in being good neighbors in Big Rapids and want to support the community and run their business well according to all the state and local laws.”
According to Priebe, the building at 804 Clark St. was originally built as a residence and also used to be owned by Little Caesars for some time.
“Seeing a potentially vacant building like this at 804 Clark St. being renovated and used again, I think, is a positive thing,” she said.
The decision on whether to approve the applicant’s new parking lot for a potential marijuana establishment will be discussed during the planning commission meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, at City Hall.