Damian Martin, left, and Elliot Lewis, who rented a property on Costa Mesa’s 17th Street to open a dispensary, sued the city over its application process. One year later, with a different location, their permit was granted.(Courtesy of Nathan Avila)
A judge denied the request, allowing the city to continue reviewing applicants and scheduling public hearings before the Costa Mesa Planning Commission for retail cannabis conditional use permits.
On Monday, Catalyst Chief Executive Elliot Lewis appeared before commissioners with plans for a retail dispensary occupying two units of a commercial building at 170 E. 17th St., currently leased by Coast Sewing & Vacuum Center.
The new business is anticipated to serve from 175 to 300 customers per day and gross more than $2.5 million in 2023, generating $179,630 in tax revenue for the city.
Lewis described how his team planned to hire unionized employees, restripe the site’s legal nonconforming parking lot, plant six new trees and build a sidewalk along nearby Fullerton Avenue, in addition to tackling significant interior work within the two units.
He said having a dispensary in the commercial building would not only drive up foot traffic to surrounding businesses but add a level of security that