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ALPENA — The future of a pair of medical marijuana shops in Alpena is up in the air as the developers selected by the Alpena Municipal Council last year have made little progress in opening their businesses.

Another applicant, meanwhile, seems close to moving forward with a medical marijuana shop in the city at the former Frank’s Key and Lock Shop on Washington Avenue.

City Manager Rachel Smolinski confirmed local developers Bob and Kevin Currier, who had expressed interest in opening a shop shortly after the city voted to allow the sale of marijuana for medicinal purposes, have submitted a site plan.

The project is slated to be considered by the Alpena Planning Commission on Nov. 9.

Lume Cannabis Co. and Green Buddha were originally chosen to legally sell medical marijuana in the city, but the city removed a self-established cap to allow more competition.

Don Gilmet, who is the former building official in Alpena and is now contracted with the city for building department services, said the owner of the properties where a proposed medical marijuana shop was slated to open indicated that Green Buddha didn’t execute its purchase agreement.

Smolinski said Green Buddha hasn’t moved forward with anything project-related — at least to the city’s knowledge — since it was granted a special-use permit on Jan.12. She said the company has until that same date next year to begin work or the permit will expire and the entire process would have to begin anew.

She said its attorney was present at several Alpena Municipal Council meetings when the board was considering lifting the limit of medical marijuana shops in the city from two to unlimited. Smolinski said the company urged the council not to increase the cap, and may have had a change of heart when the council opened the way for more competition.

“It is a fact that the representatives from Green Buddha expressed disappointment that things were opened up,” Smolinski said. “I think we can kind of read between the lines on that one.”

A message left for Green Buddha representative Kevin Changa was not returned.

Lume planned to build a new facility on property across the street from the Cracker Barrel Party Store on Chisholm Street.

Smolinski said the project and design plans for the facility passed through the planning commission. She said construction can begin once Lume pays the $6,895 owed on the building permit. Lume may not sell marijuana until several other steps in the process are complete, including having an inspection completed, paying the $5,000 licensing fee, and obtaining the needed license from the state.

Lume representative John Abbo said he was unable to comment on the progress, or lack thereof, regarding the project.