Lynn, Saugus draw battle lines over recreational cannabis facility

BOSTON — The battle lines have been drawn between Saugus and Lynn over a recreational cannabis shop to go inside the former O’Brien’s Pub building on Boston Avenue.

"I can’t remember anytime Lynn and Saugus having (sic) a legal dispute on any subject," Assistant Lynn City Solicitor James Lamanna said.

Saugus town leaders say the operation of Massachusetts Green Retail violates their town bylaws and they filed a lawsuit against the City of Lynn last week.

The building itself straddles the town line. Recreational marijuana was voted down by residents in Saugus, but it was approved in Lynn.

If you're being very technical, just 10 inches are in dispute. It's also not the first time Lynn has faced a legal action over a cannabis shop. A bowling alley owner sued the city over a medical facility slated to go in on the Lynnway but later dropped the suit.

Traffic is at the center of the issue, according to Saugus Select Board Chair Debra Panetta.

She told Boston 25 News in a statement: “Unfortunately, because a portion of the building and parking lot is located in Saugus and the proposed use is in direct conflict with the Saugus bylaws, the inadequate parking, the unavoidable increase in traffic congestion at an already busy roadway, and a lack of an overall plan, the town of Saugus is left with limited options."

Lynn native and Massachusetts Green Retail CEO Jordan Avery says the company has a parking, traffic and operations plan approved by the city zoning board.

"All the parking is going to occur in Lynn. There will be signs that say cannabis-only parking in the City of Lynn," Lamanna explained.

Plus, Massachusetts Green Retail will share the building with local favorite Bianchi’s Pizza.

"I don’t know how you can differentiate between cannabis traffic and restaurant traffic," Lamanna said. "It’s more likely Bianchi’s will have more day-to-day customers than the cannabis shop.”

Lynn City Officials say a total of eight cannabis stores are set to open in the city. They say the building owner is going to decrease the size of it, so the entire structure is all in Lynn.

Cox Media Group