NEW LOOK – The former Anthony’s Dairy Delight, 102 E. Corunna Avenue in Owosso, has been repainted and the windows have been darkened as the building is being converted to accommodate a medical marijuana dispensary. This was the view Thursday morning, Dec. 10. (Independent Photos/BILL CONSTINE)
A MEDICAL MARIJUANA dispensary being planned for the former Anthony’s Dairy Delight building, 102 E. Corunna Avenue (M-71), Owosso has raised concerns from Patrick Sherman, with a substance abuse treatment center in the former Midwest Abrasives office building, 510 S. Washington (also M-71).
Sherman said that clientele going into or leaving the treatment center would see signs on the building. He asked that the Owosso City Council look into expanding the 1,000-foot “prohibited zone” for schools and churches to include treatment and counseling centers. “It’s high time to look at that,” said Mayor Ben Frederick. City attorney Bill Brown was asked to review possibilities and report to the council.
Medical marijuana dispensaries and related points are on the 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14, city Planning Commission meeting in City Hall’s Council Chambers. (A few years ago, Owosso had several medical marijuana sales operations: one in the 100 block of E. Main, in the 800 block of W. Main, in the 700 block of W. Main, which was directly across from St. Paul School, one in the 400 block of E. Corunna Avenue plus one in the 700 block of S. Chipman, all of which closed.)
Work has been done on the former Anthony’s building during the past several weeks. It was purchased a few months ago for $75,000. The property’s Taxable Value (for property tax levies) was listed at just over $22,000, making the “true cash value” about double that.
Susan Montenegro, Owosso’s assistant city manager/Community Development director, said that location (former Anthony’s) meets state criteria. City Manager Don Crawford said Owosso has been receiving five or six calls a week from persons interested in finding a location for a medical marijuana dispensary in the city. “It’s not a matter of money (for them). Whoever gets in first will block out the competition,” said Crawford.
