The Pontiac Planning Commission voted unanimously Dec. 3 to approve a special exception and preliminary site plan for Botanical Greens to operate an adult-use cannabis grower at 1651 East Highwood Boulevard.

Staff presentation: Michael Boettcher of the city’s planning staff said the existing nearly 17,000-square-foot building on the 2.37-acre site sits in an IP-1 Industrial Park parcel within the Walton Boulevard adult-use overlay and ‘‘staff finds that those standards … have been met,’’ citing required buffers and master-plan consistency. Boettcher noted outstanding site-plan items that must be addressed before final approval, including screening for rooftop mechanical equipment, a photometric (lighting) plan, dumpster and generator enclosures, and confirmation of parking and maneuvering dimensions.

Applicant remarks: Salma Dajalic, who identified her address as 1651 East Highwood, said the operation is currently licensed as a medical Class C grower and would continue as a craft-focused production facility under adult use. ‘‘We don’t remediate our product,’’ Dajalic said, adding the facility expects about 7–8 employees and limited vendor visits, which she said supports the applicant’s request to allow 42 parking spaces rather than the 47 spaces recommended in staff materials.

Commission discussion and outcome: Commissioners clarified that signage and trade-name issues are handled through the city’s legal review. Staff pointed to code section 4.304(a) allowing the planning commission to modify required off-street parking if the applicant provides supporting evidence. Commissioner Shepherd moved to approve the special exception based on the staff findings; Vice Chair Jackson supported. The roll call vote was unanimous. The commission then approved the tied preliminary site plan (SPR25-037) with two conditions requiring correction of the outstanding items and an explicit allowance for 42 parking spaces.

What’s next: The approvals are preliminary and tied to the condition that the applicant amend site plans to resolve the identified deficiencies (roof screening, elevations and colors, lighting/photometric plan, dumpster and generator screening and maneuvering dimensions). Staff will confirm those items before issuing final approvals.