DARIEN, CT — The Stamford Zoning Board on Monday night unanimously approved a special permit for Nautilus Botanicals to open a hybrid cannabis dispensary near the border with Darien.
Located at 1308 E. Main St., Nautilus Botanicals will convert The Boatyard BBQ & Grill restaurant into a dispensary that sells both medical and recreational cannabis.
An addition is planned for the second story where the retail store and office will be. The first floor will be used for storage, according to submitted documents. The site will be re-striped to have a total of 21 parking spaces.
This will mark Stamford’s fourth hybrid cannabis dispensary; city zoning regulations only allow five.
The site is on the easternmost edge of Stamford, south of I-95, directly on the west bank of the Noroton River and across from Darien.
Residents and Darien First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky have been vocal in their opposition to the cannabis dispensary.
On Tuesday, Zagrodzky expressed disappointment in the Stamford Zoning Board’s approval
“This shortsighted ruling will negatively impact nearby Darien businesses, residents and property values,” Zagrodzky told Patch. “When Stamford decided to allow dispensaries, it made no provision to protect neighboring communities, including Darien, which plans to prohibit them. I am