SPRINGFIELD — The City Council on Tuesday approved special permits for the first three recreational marijuana retail stores in Springfield, but a fourth proposed at the former Luxe Burger Bar on West Columbus Avenue failed by one vote.

The council votes followed public hearings at City Hall.

Attorney Melinda Phelps, representing INSA LLC, which was denied, said the company is “obviously disappointed” with the council vote and will explore its legal options. The vote was 8-3 in favor of the INSA permit, but nine votes were needed — two-thirds of the 13-member council.

The four companies already had host community agreements with the city that were approved last week by the City Council after being negotiated by Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and his advisers.

The three approved companies still need licenses from the state Cannabis Control Commission before they begin operations.

The council approved special permits for the following three companies:

Holistic Industries, at 1300 Boston Road, within a shopping plaza next to Moe’s Southwest Grill

6 Brick’s LLC, at the Gasoline Alley business site, 250 Albany St., in McKnight

311 Page Blvd LLC, at that address in East Springfield, formerly the Crossfit Journey Gym

The special permits included more than 25 conditions for each business including that they must coordinate with the Police Department on all security matters and must coordinate with the police and Department of Public Works on traffic issues.

The city initially had 27 applications from companies seeking to open marijuana businesses in Springfield. The applicants were ranked by a city review committee and the top four companies were chosen by Sarno to become the first to begin the process to open a marijuana business here.

The INSA permit hearing lasted two hours, and triggered sharp disagreements among councilors.

INSA already has a medical marijuana business on Cottage Street in Springfield. It proposed a recreational marijuana shop at 1200 West Columbus Ave. in the South End.

Councilors voting against the INSA permit were Orlando Ramos, Adam Gomez and council President Justin Hurst. Councilors E. Henry Twiggs and Michael Fenton were absent. Fenton previously said he would abstain from any marijuana vote because of a potential conflict of interest — his law firm does business with a marijuana company.

Hurst said he was concerned that people would just drive off Interstate 91, buy "weed” and then just get right back onto I-91, without benefiting the downtown area.

With 100,000 cars traveling by the site on Interstate-91 daily Hurst said using the Luxe Burger Bar location was taking away the best site in Springfield, probably the best site in the state and possibly the best site in the country.

Hurst said he also believed the land was owned by the Springfield Redevelopment Authority, but other city officials said the record is clear that the Luxe property was sold seven years ago to NE Enterprises controlled by former City Councilor Raipher Pellegrino.

Ramos said he was concerned about INSA getting a monopoly.

Gomez, in voting no, said there was no letter from the South End Citizens Council stating if it was in favor or opposed.

Councilor Timothy Ryan, in response to comments by Ramos and others, said the reasons for denial were “arbitrary and capricious.”

Ryan with Councilors Tracye Whitfield, Melvin Edwards, Kenneth Shea, Jesse Lederman, Marcus Williams, Timothy Allen, Kateri Walsh voted for the proposal.

A roll call vote to approve the standard reasons for denying a special permit, including that it would be an inappropriate location, failed by a vote of five supporting the reasons and six opposed.

During the hearing, no one from the public spoke against the special permit for INSA.

Phelps said INSA was the highest ranked company by a city review team, of 27 applicants, and has a great track record at its medical marijuana facility in Springfield, and its marijuana business in Easthampton.

The reasons listed for denying the permit were “outside the legal basis” for denying a permit, she said.

“We are certainly looking into legal options and we will pursue them,” Phelps said.

The City Council approved a zoning ordinance last September that allows up to 15 recreational marijuana stores in Springfield. The stores are allowed only on 58 designated streets within business and industrial zones.

Sarno said he will evaluate the first stores before considering additional marijuana businesses.