NORTHAMPTON — Since Mayor David Narkewicz and New England Treatment Access signed a host-community agreement for the dispensary’s soon-to-be-open recreational marijuana business, no other business has taken that step.

That doesn’t mean there hasn’t been an interest, however.

“Everyone else is still in the preliminary phase,” Narkewicz said.

Successfully negotiating a host-community agreement is a necessity for a marijuana establishment to get licensed by the state. Abiding by a community’s bylaws and ordinances, including zoning, and holding a public outreach meeting are the other two steps that an establishment must take to successfully apply for a recreational marijuana license from the commonwealth.

The five-year agreement, signed by both parties on March 29, commits NETA to providing the city with 3 percent of its gross revenue from the sale of recreational marijuana products, paid to the city on a quarterly basis.

This 3 percent payment, designed to mitigate the direct and indirect impacts of the facility on the city, is the maximum the city can ask for in a host agreement under state law.

“Obviously, I’m pleased,” Narkewicz said.

This is separate from the local option to levy a 3 percent local tax on recreational marijuana sales, which the City Council voted to take full advantage of with the full support of the mayor.

The agreement also commits NETA to donating at least $10,000 to a nonprofit or nonprofits for marijuana education and prevention work on an annual basis.

“I’m grateful to NETA for agreeing to that,” said Narkewicz, noting the concerns surrounding marijuana that have been raised by local public health and addiction organizations.

Aside from these monetary provisions, the mayor said the agreement provides a framework for communication between the city and NETA, and serves as a model for future host agreements.

Narkewicz said negotiations on the agreement with NETA went well. NETA opened up a medical marijuana dispensary on Conz Street in 2015, and Narkewicz praised the way the company has comported itself in the community.

“They have been excellent to work with,” he said.

Narkewicz said he has given the NETA agreement to other marijuana businesses who are interested in opening up in Northampton. He said he has told those who have reached out, “Make sure you’re in compliance with our zoning,” and suggested they hold a community outreach meeting before pursuing a host-community agreement.

So far, three notices for community outreach meetings for marijuana businesses for the month of May have been posted.

A community outreach meeting was held also for a proposed growing facility in Leeds in April.

Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.