New London — An applicant received approval from the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission last week to relocate a recreational marijuana retail business from its previously approved location.

Andrew Simonow, doing business as 6 West Ave. LLC, had been approved to open the business on 436 Broad St., in the Dollar General plaza off Colman Street.

On Jan. 12, Simonow spoke to the Planning and Zoning Commission and requested to relocate his permit and construct a building at the current empty lot at 449 Colman St.

Simonow did not state the reason for the move during the meeting and as of deadline could not be reached for comment.

Simonow, who received unanimous support from the commission, has until Jan. 12, 2025 to construct the shop’s building and receive a cannabis retailer license from the state. The permit would become void at that point, though he could request an extension.

Local approval for the retail cannabis establishment, which requires a special permit, is invalid without a state license.

In a recording of the Planning and Zoning Commission’s Jan. 12 meeting, Simonow said the building would need to be constructed with building certification and security systems in place before applying to the state for a license.

Barry Levine, the commission’s chairman, asked Siminow why anyone would go through all that expense while waiting on the discretion of the state for a license.

Simonow said he has provisional approvals from the state.

Levine also read aloud email correspondence from two Colman Street business owners, William Sullivan and Jeff Aiosa, who opposed the application.

Both stated the new product could open the door for other businesses like it and the “cultural shift” could cause “a terrible transgression of the integrity and quality of life the community enjoys.”

Levine said regulations do not allow cannabis retail shops to be within 1,000 feet for each other. He reminded everyone that the request before them was to approve the relocation of an existing permit.

He said there was no such protest from abutters when the permit was before the council last year.

j.vazquez@theday.com