Group seeks to operate medical marijuana dispensary in West Toledo

A Sylvania investment group has applied to the Toledo Plan Commission for a special use permit to operate a medical marijuana dispensary in a former veterinary clinic on Sylvania Avenue.

Tom Helberg, owner of Bellevue Investors, is seeking approval from the city to open a retail outlet for medical marijuana at 3209 Sylvania Ave., just east of Secor Road.

Glass City Alternatives is asking for special use permit to use this building at 3209 W. Sylvania Ave. in Toledo to sell medical marijuana.

The application was filed with the plan commission on behalf of Glass City Alternatives, LLC. The plan commission has scheduled to review the proposal and site plans at its Dec. 7 meeting.

The use of marijuana for medical purposes was legalized Sept. 8, 2016, by state law. It allows patients with qualifying medical conditions and recommendations by a certified physician to apply for medical-marijuana patient cards.

Under rules established by the Ohio Board of Pharmacy, the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program's two-week dispensary application process will begin Friday. Distributed evenly throughout Ohio, the 60 dispensaries will be allocated throughout four regions. The rules call for Lucas County to have two dispensaries.

The state previously accepted applications for those who want to be selected as one of 24 marijuana cultivators — 12 large growers and 12 smaller growers. Decisions on growers will be made in November.

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According to documents filed with the special use permit application, Mr. Helberg has a purchase agreement to buy the 4,200-square-foot vacant building and parking lot for $139,900.

A lawyer representing Mr. Helberg has scheduled a meeting at 7 p.m. Monday in Signal Niteclub on Secor Road to talk about his plans for the property. Notices were sent to the owners of about 90 homes and businesses in the seven-block area near the proposed dispensary.

Mr. Helberg could not be reached to talk about the proposal.

The former veterinary clinic is the second location on Sylvania Avenue to be considered for a medical marijuana dispensary. Toledo Wellness Center, LLC applied for a special use permit to open a dispensary at 3123 Sylvania Ave., about one block from Mr. Helberg's site.

Staff planner Ryne Sundvold said the applicant, David Arevshatyan, withdrew the request because he felt he would be unable to comply with preparing documents to apply for state licensing. Plan Commission review of the proposal was scheduled for its November meeting.

The application of Glass City Alternatives complies with zoning regulations approved by Toledo City Council in August for medical marijuana facilities, including that the property is zoned regional commercial and not located within 500 feet of a church, child daycare, school, park, playground, or library.

After the public hearing before the Plan Commission, the request for the special use permit will advance to City Council’s planning and zoning committee and then to the full council for a vote.

Contact Mark Reiter at markreiter@theblade.com or 419-724-6199.