Applicant changes plans for proposed marijuana establishment

The proposed marijuana retail and grow facility in Niwot recently made a change to its application, removing the grow facility from the proposal.

In an updated application submitted on Monday, March 21, Ernie Craumer of Colorado Real Estate Holdings (CREH) said that as of now he believes “ they have provided sufficient documentation to address the requirements needed to approve the proposed marijuana establishment located at 6924 79th Street by the Boulder County Land Use Planners.”

The new application went on to say that CREH decided to “voluntarily modify” its application to withdraw the request for a 3,330 square-foot grow facility, and move forward with the 1,300 square-foot retail dispensary.

Craumer said they listened to the concerns of the Niwot community in their decision, which he described as mainly about the cultivation part of the request.

According to Craumer, “The concerns that are being eliminated with the removal of the cultivation component are first and foremost odor, 24/7 hours of operation, security, and potential additional traffic and parking impacts to the area as resulting from the operations of the additional 3,330 square feet of space.”

He still plans to operate the marijuana dispensary under the standard legal hours of Monday-Sunday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. “We continue with our desire to be good neighbors and business members of the Niwot community in the County of Boulder,” Craumer said in his revised application.

Instead of a grow house, the applicant is proposing to use the extra space for an employee lounge and conference area, a kitchenette, an employee shower, and secure interior bicycle parking. He hopes to “promote the use of alternative modes of transportation, to and from the site.” The back room will also include a storage area and secure safe room.

In order to further promote alternative modes of transportation, the applicant would also like to offer eco passes to all full-time employees.

Craumer explained there are no changes made to the proposed retail space, and it will “continue to be a more conforming to code and less intense use than the ‘Professional Office Use,’ which is currently approved for this site.”

Steve Romano, spokesperson for No Pot In Niwot, said that although they are glad the grow facility was taken out of the application, they still have reservations about the proposed marijuana establishment.

“No Pot In Niwot is pleased that the applicant has abandoned its ill-considered grow operation,” Romano said in an email correspondence. “We continue to oppose the retail shop for multiple reasons outlined in our written comments to the County.”

Boulder County Land Use Department expects the docket to be reviewed at the Boulder County Planning Commission meeting on Wednesday, April 20.

Additional information and updates on the issue are available on the No Pot in Niwot website, preserveniwot.org as well as on the Boulder County Land Use website.