When you step back and look at what the town and C
Post# of 56323
Lose-Lose - they dig in on their positions and make this go through a legal battle that lasts far too long and regardless of who the courts favor, the MMPR has moved forward with licensing other companies and the market will have a number of choices that patients have already aligned with. CEN at best can grow on the current site, though they will be an also-ran in the number of companies already in the mix. The town receives some, but only a little tax revenue. At worst, the CEN has to close up shop in Lakeshore, possibly look for another location and possibly face legal action from their private investor. With $20M riding on an investment, I would think there would be certain clauses in regards to company mis-management issues and possible fraudulent claims made by CEN (ie - zoning not an issue). Lakeshore receives no tax revenue.
The Tecumseh reference is simply saber-rattling. Bill knows that to start up operations elsewhere will add 12+ months to get to licensing plus additional admin/land/development costs that the company simply doesn't have the cash/available shares to pay for. The council (should) know this as well.
Win-Win - they figure out how they can have the existing facility up and running to get in the MMPR patient pool as quickly as possible by identifying solutions (albeit upfront costly to CEN - ie - purchasing local land, etc) to then be able to obtain a special exemption, rezoning, etc, whatever you want to call it. CEN has to bleed some cash on the near term, but gets the approvals from the town to start operations which I believe will lead to the license (I think HC is well aware of this battle and will not want to issue a license as they prepare to go into the appeal process on MMPR/MMAR - HC doesn't need any baggage/negative publicity leading up to the case). CEN then starts to pull in revenues and profits. Expansion can be where ever they want - beyond Lakeshore, etc. Lakeshore has the ability to bring in significant tax revenue from site 1 - they don't have another opportunity like this anywhere on the horizon. They know it and Bill knows it.
Therefore, they can either look to establish a plan to get operations started and share in the revenues/profits that the MMPR license can provide, or end up with nothing. This is the biggest opportunity for each side and each of them would be foolish to pass it up.
Regards,
-kbulldog.