The Hyde Park Neighborhood Association (HPNA) held its monthly meeting on Dec. 4. Attended by about 15 people, including paid-up members and other residents, scheduled presenters, and a few elected officials’ staff members, it was dominated by a 45-minute appointment regarding a proposed retail delivery cannabis business seeking its support.

None of that was particularly unusual. However, the way that the appointment unfolded was.

To begin, the business in question – New Growth LLC – had gone before the HPNA in July regarding its application for a buffer zone variance from the Zoning Board of Appeal (ZBA).

Its proposed site at 110-114 Business St. (at Reservation Road) is within 500 feet – as the crow flies – of the Boston Renaissance Charter School at 1415 Hyde Park Ave, thus triggering the zoning violation. However, that 428-foot straight line between the two addresses is blocked by the impassable barriers of Mother Brook and the Commuter/Northeast Corridor railroad tracks, so the distance between the two points via connecting roads is greater than 500 feet.

In July, majority owner Caleb Mathis and representing attorney Quinn Heath outlined the New Growth business model and fielded an array of questions over an appointment that ran about 25 minutes – all of which resulted in the HPNA taking the request under advisement.

Last Thursday, Mathis returned – along with co-owner Moe Taha – and essentially rehashed what had been said five months ago. They also clarified that the heavily regulated and monitored business would purchase its inventory from Massachusetts cultivators/farms, stocking the restricted access Business Street site and offering their products online as part of their same-day retail delivery service. They also reiterated that the operation would be small enough that they themselves would be the ones making the DoorDash-style deliveries in two unmarked vans.

Much as the July appointment had gone, this played out over about 25 minutes, with another round of non-combative questions and answers before a motion was made for a vote to support.

That’s when things became convoluted.

A voice vote was called, and it sounded like the ayes had it comfortably. Then a hand vote was taken, and nearly everyone in the room participated, resulting in a 6-6 tie.

Then a point of order was raised asking for a show of hands from only dues-paying HPNA members, which resulted in a 4-2 vote in favor of the letter of support.

And, for almost one full minute, the matter remained settled, until a request was made by two attendees to pay their dues and have their opposing votes counted. This was not allowed, but the comments that followed sparked an impromptu floor discussion that went on for an additional 15 minutes, raised new questions about the virtual abutters meeting (The Bulletin’s request to the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services for a copy of the video was still pending as of going to press), included input by elected officials’ staff members (all of whom are Hyde Park residents), and featured points made on both sides of the issue. All of which led HPNA President Mimi Turchinetz to ask for another motion – this time of non-opposition – due to the lack of consensus that had spread through the small group. That, in turn, led to further discussion and, in that milieu, the motion was never made, nor was a motion made to cancel the prior vote.

Turchinetz did confirm afterwards that the HPNA would submit a letter of non-opposition to the proposed business, in which there would be included an explanation of the rationale behind it.

No ZBA or Boston Cannabis Board dates have yet been scheduled for New Growth LLC.

Annual HPNA membership dues are $10.

In her monthly update, Mayor Wu’s ONS Hyde Park Liaison Zoë Petty focused on the increase in residential property taxes that is scheduled to hit homeowners starting next month. She noted that the taxes on single family homes will increase by 13 percent – an average of about $750.

Wu is proposing a shift in some of the tax burden to the city’s commercial properties, which Petty stated would bring the residential increase to 9 percent – an average of about $550.

Petty added that the commercial rate is projected to decrease by 6 percent.

During her remarks, Petty relayed Wu’s request for residents to reach out to their local state representatives and senators to advocate for her residential property tax home petition.

The city’s commercial real estate has been suffering since the pandemic, leading to reduced tax revenue, and City Hall is currently at an impasse with the Massachusetts Legislature – specifically the Senate – over the impact of Wu’s proposal on that already reeling market.

The option of reducing City Hall’s budget was brought up as another way to alleviate the residential tax burden, which – if it stays at 13 percent – will be the second double digit increase in as many years. In response, Petty stated that its departments have been asked to submit their budget proposals at 2 percent below where they are now, and she added that hirings have also been delayed. She also said that there will still be funds for affected small businesses and seniors.

The HPNA meets on the first Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Hyde Park Municipal Building/BCYF (1179 River St.). For information, email hydeparkneighbors@gmail.com.