City Council — June 23, 2026
Malden Council approved cannabis permit transfer after councilors flagged incomplete vetting and rushed timing.
Extended discussion and a recusal occurred on the cannabis special permit transfer while most other items passed without opposition.
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At the June 23 Malden City Council meeting, members approved amending the special permit for the cannabis dispensary at 36 Charles Street. The change removes the non-transferable condition so ownership can move to Beach House Cannabis. Several councilors stated they wanted more time and information on the new owners and the transfer process; one councilor recused. The vote was 8-0 with the recusal. An ordinance amendment is still required before the local cannabis commission can review any transfer.
In the same meeting, councilors voted 10-1 to reduce the Cemetery Trustees board from five members to three. The dissenting vote received no recorded explanation. The Rules and Ordinances Committee recommended the cut for efficiency and advanced it the same night.
Council also referred a proposal to lower inclusionary zoning requirements from 15 percent to 10 percent affordable units and adjust income targets. The building permit fee increased from $16 to $18 per thousand dollars of value by unanimous roll call.
Public impact
increase from $16 to $18 per thousand dollars of value
Ordained by unanimous roll call
reduced affordable unit requirement from 15% to 10% and adjusted AMI threshold
Referred as amended to joint hearing by unanimous voice vote
Joint Planning Board and Rules & Ordinance hearing in summer; council vote targeted for September
Topics discussed
Council held a public hearing on amending the non-transferable special permit for 36 Charles Street to allow transfer to a new joint-venture entity (Beach House Cannabis) and updated ownership. Public hearing and council deliberation on petition to amend special permit by removing non-transferable/non-assignable condition to allow ownership transfer to new entity Beach House LLC.
The hearing was formally opened after extensive council discussion; Council rejected tabling motion; approved amendment removing the non-transferable condition from the special permit.
Public comment, further deliberation, and potential vote on revising the special permit condition; CLEC and HCA processes to follow if approved. Matter proceeds to mayor; ordinance amendment required before CLECC can review transfer; further steps to state Cannabis Control Commission.
Staff recommended revising the 5-year-old inclusionary zoning ordinance to reduce requirements (15% to 10% affordable units, 50% to 60% AMI) and adjust incentives including density bonuses and parking reductions.
Motion to refer as amended (payment-in-lieu approval changed to Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board) passed unanimously.
Joint Planning Board and Rules & Ordinance hearing scheduled for summer; council vote targeted for September.
Council adopted four routine orders for early voting hours, polling locations, police details, and warrant posting for the September primary and November election.
All four papers (337-340) received and adopted by unanimous voice vote.
Council enacted three ordinance changes: reduced Cemetery Trustees from five to three members, restructured Emergency Management Board to five members with mayor-appointed director, and raised building permit fees from $16 to $18 per thousand dollars of value.
All three papers (318, 319, 320) ordained after roll-call votes.
Licensing Committee recommended granting seven petitions for parking lots, pool tables, extended hours, and livery licenses; all approved without opposition.
All petitions granted by unanimous voice vote.
Joint committee recommended splitting Paper 263: zoning amendments allowing residential kitchens as home occupations referred to joint planning hearing; operational rules referred to Board of Health; solid-waste provisions to Rules & Ordinances.
Paper split; zoning portion amended and referred to joint hearing; remaining sections referred to Board of Health and Rules & Ordinances.
Joint planning hearing and Board of Health review to follow.
Controversy & dissent
Potentially controversial issues
Special Permit Amendment for DMS Trinity LLC Cannabis Dispensary
Split votes
Public comment
Decisions logged
Action items
Member positions
Positions marked ~ are inferred from context and may not reflect the member's explicitly stated position. UNCLEAR means the vote was split but the record did not name how this member voted — it is not a “yes.”
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grok-4.3, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning · analyzed 2026-06-30.
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