Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022.07.05 Council Meeting Public Comment Submission from Carl HolderCarl Holder to Blanche, Pete, David, Craig, camposcouncil@pasco- February 8, 2022 9:00 AM wa.gov, torrescouncil@pasco-wa.gov, roachcouncil@pasco-wa.gov, David February 7, 2022 Pasco City Mayor Blanche Barajas Pasco City Council Pasco City Manager, David Zabell Dear Mayor Barajas I plan to assi~ to locate a retail cannabis store at 402 W Lewis St; but requires Council approval. At a recent Pasco Business Advisory Council, a retail cannabis store in Downtown Pasco was discussed. There were only positive comments, not one objecting voice. Soon the Council w.111 receive a presentation by the firm with intent to locate its retail cannabis store in Downtown Pasco. The owners are Pasco natives and they would greatly contribute to a transformation In Downtown Pasco. The very successful Lucky Leaf store in lower downtown Spokane has been a catalyst for positive change. Retail cannabis is a proven business model that would become a regional retail destination, so desperately needed. The retail store would return vibrancy synergistlcally along with the new Lewis Street bridge and Mercado. The firm has a Washington State LCB license to operate in Pasco and a location is offered. But- for your approval. Thank you for your consideration and prompt action. Best regards, earl Holder P.O. Box 1316 Pasco WA 99301 Tri-Oty Herald, January 19, 2019 LOCAL It 's Pasco's turn to rethink its marij uana ban A pair of marijuana retailers want Pasco to rescind the sales ban it enacted after Washington voters approved Initiative 502 legalizing recreational use. Richland is studying the issue. https://www.tri-cityherald.com /news /local /article224827835.html lie n n rt P 2 2 1 ~ Carl Holder <holdercarl@hotmail.com> To: comppian@pasco-wa.gov <compplan@pasco-wa.gov> Bee: Craig Ma oney <maloneycouncil@pasco-wa.gov > ·David Morgan dav,dlQ)luckyle f.co> Public Comment: Establish Downtown L -· ~ '"" CPA2022-013 Carl Holder, MBA 402 W lewis St Pasco WA 99301 Standing: long-term Pasco __ smessm, land/building owne & former DPDA membe 1. Downtown Pasco is/has been in decline with manv vacant/for-safe buildings and low retail sales. What is the --r and best use for my vacant building? Retail Cannao1s the highest and bes use, missing, in the downtown corridor? Retail Cannabis Downrown Pasco is desperately in need of "destination businesses"'. W -,.+ business would bn .. g abundant L , , l""I" ~ c , ? Retail Cannabis Re·, Cannabis is • proven, high -lun and cratwe b,JS1ne~~ model. local Taxi company owner commented "From P s, a high percentage of busines taking rides to F ,ley and West Richland for Retail Cannabis". In my survey of local businesses Retail Cannabis is enthusiastically suoporteCI. Thank vou or this -portun for ',t Comment. Carl Holder Pasco City Council July 5, 2022 Public Comment Mayor Barajas, Pasco City Council 402 W Lewis St was built by Seattle First National Bank in 1930's. SeaFirst later built its large, new branch across the street. Bank of America and Seafirst merged in 1999. Pasco BofA is CLOSED including the ATM. Another nail in the coffin. Branches at Kennewick, Columbia Center and Richland are OPEN. In February (of this year) 2022, I wrote to the City Council, "I plan to assist to locate a retail cannabis store at 402 W Lewis St; but requires Council Approval." I hope that we now HAVE Council approval. During this time, I participated with Pasco Business Advisory Council. A major activity was to modernize the Downtown C-2 code, which was approved by the Council. Thank you, positive changes are being made. The negative is going away thanks to the purchase of the Thunderbird. In the C-2 Code discussion, retail cannabis was discussed and Lucky Leaf of Spokane made an exciting presentation. Tomorrow, legal cannabis is on the agenda. pause The City of Pasco planning initiated: Establish Downtown Land Use, or the CompPlan. Therein I made a Public Comment: Downtown Pasco is/has been in decline with many vacant/for-sale buildings and low retail sales .... What is the highest and best use, missing in the Downtown corridor? Retail Cannabis, a destination business . In Conclusion, From the Washington State Treasurer: In fiscal year 2021 Washington State collected a total of $559.5 million in legal marijuana income, up $85 million over 2020. NONE of this money comes to Pasco. The trickle-down" revitalization for local business' is proven to be very significant. I understand the fear of a criminal element; but, the FACTS just do not support that fear. As of May 2022, 37 states have legalized the use of medical cannabis, while 18 states allow recreational use. Delaware & Maryland are probably next. Just say, "OK"; People will come. It's an opportunity to revitalize Downtown. Tri-Cities residents and out-of-towners are buying legal marijuana but they are going elsewhere. A local Taxi company owner commented, (pause) "From Pasco, a high percentage of my business is taking rides to Finley and West Richland for retail cannabis." ... Let's bring them back. My Pasco property value is devalued, all the while neighboring areas are enjoying vitality and increasing value. What path forward? Marijuana is revitalization, so desperately needed. I respectfully request that this Council adopt a change, a permitted use, to the C-2 Code that will allow Lucky Leaf to receive a City of Pasco business license at 402 W Lewis. Carl Holder 402 W Lewis St Pasco WA 99301 I have entered into a tentative lease agreement with Lucky Leaf. The Liquor and Cannabis Control board allows exception to a 500' park exclusion rule via City Approval.