Dylan Faner, who owns the site at 78 Mill St., and ran KRP Auto Repair there before moving the business to Franklin, appeared before the board with two consultants for nearly three hours to answer questions about converting the building on the half-acre site, built in 1960, into a dispensary.
Earlier this month, the Town Council approved Curiosity Cannabis to open a retail operation at 70-72 Mill St. Those two shops are across the street from where a manufacturing business, which has filed plans before town and state approving agencies, want to establish a business which would take marijuana plants, once harvested, and turn them into cannabis products.
The third site, which received town approval several months ago, is located at 117 Water St. Known as Newton CB LLC, the owners include the Romano family, principals in the company which owns ShopRite markets.
Brian Sikora, a consultant to marijuana businesses in New Jersey, New York and Maryland, and is working with Faner on setting up Releaf Newton LLC, said state regulations outline most physical aspects of the retail store, right down to how salespeople can't take cash for most purchases.