A full slate, including a second cannabis dispensary, on city council's Tuesday night agenda

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It was only a couple of weeks ago (Oct. 1) that the council approved a project development agreement with Valley Pure, a Woodlake-based cannabis firm that hopes to open its doors – at the Lemoore Railroad Depot – within two to six weeks.

Lemoore’s city leaders will conduct yet another public hearing and consider a second cannabis business in Lemoore, Natural Healing Center (NHC), a company that currently has cannabis dispensaries on the Central Coast.

NHC is purchasing the old Bank of America building on West D Street and will be responsible for an annual license fee of $12,860 as well as paying operational and use fees of 5 percent of gross sales to the city’s coffers. Also, according to a project development agreement, NHC will donate $24,000 per year to charitable groups or projects relating to youth sports or recreational activities.

The city’s cannabis regulations allow one dispensary for every 12,000 residents, hence the two in the downtown area. Chief Operating Officer Nick Andre told The Leader that Natural Healing Center, which currently has dispensaries in Grover Beach, Morro Bay, and San Luis Obispo, is looking forward to setting up shop in Lemoore. “We were really happy to see business owners in support," he said. "They recognized the economic development it can bring to downtown.” He added that in Grover Beach, Natural Healing Center sees 500 to 700 people a day. "Just think about the amount of traffic that will increase in the (Lemoore) downtown area."

Andre told The Leader he expects to be open in four to five months. "We are looking forward to working with the city, and we believe we're going to bring a lot of benefits. All the research we've done is that Lemoore is going to be a successful market."

Council members will also hold a public hearing related to a proposed 28-unit senior citizen multi-family housing project, slated for the southeast corner of Cinnamon Drive and Follett Street. The city must conduct a public hearing to allow the builder to qualify for tax-exempt bonds for the financing of the project.

The city has no financial liability or responsibility for the project or the repayment of the bonds. Several years ago, a senior citizens project was constructed right across Follett Street.