The city received 24 applications by Monday’s deadline from companies interested in opening marijuana businesses, most of which made voluntary public presentations last week.
Theo Theocles, the city’s deputy procurement director, said the applications were opened and then forwarded to a city review committee for a full evaluation and recommendations. The information in the proposals is being kept confidential pending the review, Theocles said.
“It’s clear that the interest for opening a marijuana enterprise in the city remains high,” Theocles said. “I’m lookin forward to working with committee to review all the proposals in order to determine the best fit for the city.”
The city, in its new second phase of applications, is planning to negotiate host community agreements with up to four retail stores and at least one cultivation facility, along with other types of cannabis businesses, officials said.
There is a tentative date of April 12 for the review committee to forward its recommendations to Mayor Domenic J. Sarno. Any new marijuana businesses will need a host community agreement approved by Sarno and the City Council, as well as approval from the state Cannabis Control Commission.
Theocles and the city’s consultant, attorney Julie Steiner, will be working with the city review committee in evaluating the proposals. The committee consists of representatives of various city departments.
