From left, Cannabis Compliance Consultant Ezra Parzybok with Pioneer Valley Trading Co. principals Richard Fiore, Michael Albert and Jason Fiore.
Reminder Publishing photo by Amy Porter
SOUTHWICK — The Planning Board’s decision to approve the site plan and special permit for the Pioneer Valley Trading Co. Tuesday was the culmination of a nearly two-year process to allow two recreational marijuana retailers to open in town.
“Thank you very much,” said Jason Fiore, a Pioneer Valley partner, to the Planning Board immediately after it voted unanimously to give the green light for the renovations the store, which will be located at 660 College Hwy., must occur before it opens.
It’s been eight months, since Fiore, along with Michael Albert, who is the owner and CEO of Pioneer Valley Trading Co., first appeared before the Select Board asking to be considered for one of two permits that would allow a recreational marijuana retailer to open in town.
They touted being longtime residents of Southwick, and Albert’s experience of successfully opening a recreational marijuana retailer in Westfield as giving them the edge over three other retailers vying for the two permits.
It August, after interviewing three prospective retailers, the Select Board chose Pioneer Valley Trading Co., and Haven, a California-based retailer with over a dozen retail operations in Southern California, that will be locally owned by Mark S. Dupuis and Brian Kuchachick. It will operate much like a franchise.
Haven has yet to apply to the Planning Board for a special permit and approval of a site plan.
It is planning on setting up shop in the former Family Dollar building on College Highway, just over 1,000 feet from the Pioneer Valley store.
While Pioneer Valley has what it needs from the Planning Board to begin renovating its facility, which was once the home of the Southwick Episcopal Church, it still needs a building permit from the town and two other approvals from the CCC before it can open, which Albert said would be sometime this summer.
Once it secures the building permit, Pioneer Valley will submit its interior and exterior renovation plans to the CCC, which will then conduct an architectural plan review of the building.
Fiore said Tuesday that process could take up to three months.
Once the CCC approves the plan, the interior renovation can begin.
The building’s exterior will not be changed, but the interior will be remodeled creating a space for retail space, office, security, and consulting spaces.
Pioneer Valley’s security plan has already been vetted and approved by Police Chief Rhett Bannish and once the equipment is installed, department officers will be asked to walk through to understand the facility’s layout.
When the renovations are completed, the CCC will conduct a final walkthrough of the building with it fully stocked with products to sell.
After that final inspection, the CCC will grant a full license to the company to open.
