Extending Fairfield's Cannabis Business Moratorium Under Consideration

FAIRFIELD, CT — With the current moratorium set to expire at the end of February, the Town Plan and Zoning Commission is scheduled on Tuesday to discuss whether to extend the moratorium prohibiting cannabis businesses in Fairfield for another year.

"Cannabis Establishments, including any related buildings, structures and uses, are

prohibited in all zones in the Town of Fairfield," the current legislation reads. "Cannabis establishments are defined as a producer, dispensary facility (including a Medical Marijuana Dispensary), cultivator, microcultivator, retailer, hybrid retailer (i.e., licensed to sell both recreational cannabis and medical marijuana), cannabis food and beverage manufacturer, cannabis product manufacturer, and/or cannabis product packager."

State-sanctioned recreational sales of marijuana in Connecticut began earlier this month at seven dispensaries, with one in Stamford being the only site at this time in Fairfield County.

In the first eight days of retail legality, the state saw more than $2 million in sales, according to officials.

The Town Plan and Zoning Commission unanimously approved the current moratorium in February 2022, reported the Fairfield Citizen. Communities throughout Connecticut have also imposed and/or extended moratoriums on retail sales.

At the time of the initial moratorium, Fairfield commissioners took a wait-and-see approach to how legal sales play out, and Mark Barnhart, the town's Director of Community and Economic Development, told Patch he could envision the commission doing something similar.

"I could see the commission wanting to understand the landscape, as it pertains to cannabis businesses," Barnhart said. "They might want to see how it will play out."

Though he did not elaborate on how many, Barnhart said that his office has received inquiries from businesses interested in opening cannabis establishments in town. Because of the moratorium, however, the inquiries have not gone any further.

In a statement to Patch, First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick said she thinks it would be "a good idea to take a wait and see approach."

"The TPZ Commission has the authority to extend the current prohibition on cannabis uses for another year in Town," Kupchick said. "I encourage residents who have an opinion on the matter to participate in the public hearing on January 24th. Often times the state legislature enacts laws that make sweeping changes with unintended consequences. I think it’s a good idea to take a wait and see approach as other communities just opened up cannabis sales this month. I think it’s prudent to see what the impact is in other towns before Fairfield makes a decision on this matter."

Tuesday night's Town Plan and Zoning Commission meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Fairfield Regional Fire School on Richard White Way; click here for the agenda.