HOLYOKE - In a first, the City Council on Tuesday night approved a special permit for home delivery of medical marijuana for upstart Solurge.

The council also passed a special permit for the Boston Bud Factory.

During a recent Ordinance Committee meeting, representatives from Solurge, which plans to renovate and open the facility at 650 Beaulieu St., pushed for home delivery. Until Tuesday's meeting, the council had not granted home delivery rights to any cannabis-based business.

Massachusetts regulations allow for home delivery for medicinal marijuana but under strict security and exacting standards.

Councilor Linda Vacon, who chairs the Ordinance Committee, said Solurge was an "untested" entity in Holyoke, and she opposed home delivery. She asked the council "to respect the work of the committee."

Vacon opposed altering the order to suit Solurge's needs.

Ward 3 Councilor David K. Bartley said while he supported most of Solurge's application, he disagreed with the home delivery condition. Bartley wanted more time to examine the issue and its ramifications. He asked his colleagues to refrain from voting on the special permit and return the matter to the committee.

Councilors Rebecca Lisi and Juan Anderson-Burgos, members on the Ordinance Committee, supported Solurge's request.

Lisi said Solurge represented the most "complete and comprehensive" application to date for a cannabis facility. She said state law and city ordinances allow for the additional service.

Lisa said the Holyoke Police Department reviewed and approved Solurge's security plan, including home delivery.

The council voted 10-2 for Solurge's special permit and struck down the ban on home delivery of medicinal marijuana. Vacon and Bartley maintained their opposition, voting no.

David Kotler, Solurge's chief compliance officer, thanked the council for approving the special permit. He said Solurge would move ahead with a multimillion-dollar renovation of the Beaulieu Street site.

"Better decisions are based on better facts," after the council granted home delivery to Solurge.

"Ultimately the right thing happened. I don't think there's a downside for the people of Holyoke or the city," Kotler said. "It's honestly based on the law and based on the facts. The City Council made the right decision and moved passed parliamentary politics to do what's best in the interest of the city. I applaud that."

Kotler said Solurge would continue with buildout plans and complying with ongoing state inspections and licensing requirements. "We have a lot of work ahead of us," he said.

The company will focus primarily on medicinal marijuana products, which requires time to grow the plants.

Kotler expects the facility will open in early summer.

At the same Ordinance Committee meeting, The Boston Bud Factory, founded by Carlo Sarno and Frank Dailey, drew the attention of commercial property owners and businesses near the proposed 73 Sargeant St., location.

Executives from nearby the Hazen Paper Company worried about increased traffic, especially at the exit or entrance to Interstate 391.

Vacon said the applicant would comply with traffic recommendations made by City Engineer Robert Parent.

Boston Bud Factory wants to operate a registered marijuana retail establishment and registered marijuana manufacturing establishment. Vacon asked the council to change the "Retail" language to "Recreational."

Like Solurge approval, the council attached special conditions onto Boston Bud Factory's special permit:

Boston Bud Factory must pay all commercial property taxes allowed under local, state and federal law for the permit's duration.

Retain a minimum of 30 percent Holyoke residents for non-security positions.

Hire retired Holyoke police officers or retired officers from nearby communities for security jobs.

No consumption of marijuana products on-site.

No home delivery of recreational or medical marijuana to home, businesses or individuals.

Also, Boston Bud Factory must submit an updated photometric plan showing the correct lighting scale and that "the applicant shall provide traffic patrol should customer traffic impede flow or regular traffic as recommended by the Holyoke Police Department."

Except for the photometric plan and ban on home delivery, the council imposed similar conditions to Solurge's special permit.

Beginning Dec. 23, the Massachusetts Cannabis Commission will oversee the medical marijuana industry, which previously fell under the purview of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.