Verilife parking lot dismissed by Zoning Board of Appeals

The proposal to build a 60-spot parking lot for marijuana dispensary Verilife at the site of the old Greer Lumber Yard at 59 Main Street was dismissed by the Zoning Board of Appeals on June 12. Chairman Nazih Elkallassi said the board was dismissing the proposal because it hadn’t heard from the applicant.

The parking lot was met with furor from neighbors when it was first proposed in April.

Concerns about noise, traffic, and safety dominated the hearing, which stretched over hours.

Verilife, which originally shuttled recreational customers from the Water Wizz parking lot and later from the Tremont Nail Factory had to find somewhere else for customers to park as summer approached and construction began at Tremont.

Shortly after the lot was proposed, Verilife announced that customers should park on Main Street or in Pezzoli Square.

A police detail, paid for by Verilife, has been stationed at the end of Merchants Way to help people safely cross the street.

In April, Verilife executive director Shelly Stormo said that the company is open to finding another location for the dispensary.

“All options are open,” Stormo said. “Space-wise, it’s very limited here. It’s certainly not ideal.”

Town Planner Kenneth Buckland reported that Verilife submitted a formal request to withdraw the special permit on Wednesday, June 12, at about 7:20 p.m.