Moratorium, New Rules On Legal Pot Delayed In Simsbury

SIMSBURY, CT — Plans to extend a development moratorium regarding cannabis establishments in town, along with revising zoning regulations on where and how such operations can exist, are in a small holding pattern.

The Town of Simsbury announced this week the cancelation of last Monday's regular Simsbury Zoning Commission meeting, which was planned for Oct. 17 at the local library.

"We are working to reschedule this meeting at the earliest opportunity," wrote the town.

Simsbury Planning Director George McGregor said Wednesday afternoon the meeting was canceled due to an error regarding the meeting's location in the legal notice.

"The zoning commission hearing was cancelled after a meeting location addressing error was discovered in the legal notice," wrote McGregor to Patch.

The next regularly scheduled meeting is Monday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m. at Simsbury Town Hall.

Monday's meeting was supposed to be at the Simsbury Public Library due to the interest it was expected to draw.

Legalized, recreational pot is an issue most towns are dealing with, as where and how and if such marijuana establishments are allowed is up to each individual community.

Supporters say such outlets bring in tax dollars and extensive economic development, but some skeptics are fearful of societal impacts legal pot operations in a town could bring.

The moratorium extension temporarily prohibiting development of such pot stores would have been extended to May 8, 2023 with the current moratorium expiring Nov. 8.

Such a moratorium is aimed at giving town officials time to plan for when, how or if legal pot stores will be allowed.
Because the current moratorium expires Nov. 8, a rescheduled zoning meeting would have to take place prior to that date to extend it.

As for the zoning regulation amendments on cannabis establishments, town officials said a hearing will be on the agenda at the Nov. 21 meeting.

For the official Simsbury Zoning Commission meeting cancelation announcement, click on this link.

For the information packet regarding proposed Simsbury cannabis regulations, click on this link.

From Oct. 5: 'Simsbury Looks To Extend Pot Business Moratorium'