Plans for a new medical marijuana dispensary in Pleasant Hills are moving forward.
Pleasant Hills Council recently voted 4-2 to grant site plan approval for the Ethos Cannabis business at 560 Clairton Blvd.
Council President Cheryl Freedman and members Eileen Solinas, Nicole Leckenby and Robert Karcher voted in favor. Greg Smith and Marion Haley dissented.
Council Vice President Andrew Codelka was absent.
The proposed building is a little less than 3,000 square feet with more than 50 parking spaces in the lot.
It would be next to Great Clips, H&R Block and Mariner Finance.
“I think it’s a terrible location,” Smith said. “They’re going to have problems with the traffic spilling out onto Route 51.”
Ethos Cannabis is a Philadelphia-based firm with two production centers and about a dozen retail locations in the country, including six in Pennsylvania.
Smith said he would have supported their business plan had it been at a site farther away from the main road such as the closed K-Mart a few blocks down. He acknowledged the plans do meet many of the borough’s building and zoning requirements.
Other council members had also expressed traffic concerns.
Ethos Vice President Alex Chadwick said at January’s council meeting that he would agree to have an attendant at all times of operation helping with lot traffic if it would help move the project forward.
Plans also indicated all existing signage would be replaced or updated including additional signs throughout the lot to better direct traffic.
“This is a good location,” Chadwick said. “We plan to be there for the long term.”
Smith said council was assured Ethos would contact the Port Authority to discuss bus routes near the shop.
Codelka said Wednesday that he would have voted in favor of the project if he did not have to miss the meeting due to work.
“As long as they’re able to conform with our ordinances and be positive factors in our community, if they’re willing to do that, we’re happy to have any businesses here,” he said.
Calls to Freedman and Borough Manager Kelly Theiss were not returned by press time.
