Coldwater planning commission finds no consensus on limiting pot growing facilities
COLDWATER — With three of its nine members absent, the Coldwater Planning Commission was unable Monday night to reach a consensus on whether to remove cannabis growing operations from its zoning ordinance.
The issue will be on the April 3 agenda with possible suggested changes after city council requested the review.
“What we've seen industry-wide within the state of Michigan is that so many people have gotten into the act of growing marijuana that the wholesale prices are just bottomed out," outgoing city planner Dean Walrack said.
Corporations with grow licenses in the Coldwater southwest industrial park revoked two. A Florida corporation also holds two, but there is no activity to start operations.
Commissioner and city councilman Mike Beckwith said with grow operations “odor is the problem.”
Walrack made a trip to Morenci on the Ohio border and said he smelled the enclosed grow operations half a mile away.
“The city of Denver, Colorado, enforcement officer basically said that from time to time they have odors. There is really no way to prevent that.”
Marshall received complaints of marijuana smells along old U.S. 27 where it located marijuana greenhouses.
Commissioner Rick Stevens, who opposed marijuana licensing, called changing the licenses “so petty, unfair.” He noted that he often can detect odors from Darling International rending plant all over the area.
Prior storyCity considers elimination of marijuana grow facilities permits
Walrack admitted that the city sewer plant and Real Alloy also at times emit odors into the community.
Beckwith raised the issue of whether to deal with the problem in the future or cut them out now.
There are two class “C” grow permits at 211 W. Garfield. Licenses for processing and retail sales were issued also for that location.
Could this business have a vested right to expand with more grow licenses? Walrack said probably.
City engineer Andrew Cameron said the grow operations are needed like other industries to pay back the cost of installing infrastructure in the industrial park.
Commissioner Jessika Cole opposed any changes in licensing, citing free enterprise. Commissioner Stevens agreed.
Cole questioned what the city could do since state law allows medical marijuana providers to grow up to 72 plants in homes in residential areas. There is no city zoning control.
“There could be problems with that.”
City manager Keith Baker said the ordinance calls for odor controls at retail marijuana sales businesses. There has been only one problem, which was at one of three licenses in a strip mall.
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Baker said the business is working to isolate the air and smells.
The planning commission will address the issue again in April when more commissioners attend. Also, Walrack’s replacement, recently hired by Baker, will attend his first meeting.
— Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @DReidTDR.
This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Coldwater finds no consensus on limiting marijuana growing facilities
