BENTONVILLE -- Two Fayetteville men approached Benton County planners for information about establishing a medicinal marijuana cultivation operation.
Aaron Crawley and Erik Danielson, representing Arkansas Medicinal Source LLC, met with the Development Review Committee on Wednesday to discuss development requirements and the process to gain approval for such a business. The men said they're considering "multiple properties" but identified a location at 16514 West Arkansas 12 near Gentry as one possibility.
Development Review
Benton County’s Development Review Committee meets with developers informally to provide information about the county’s planning and development requirements before the proposals are submitted for consideration by the Planning Board. The panel includes representatives from the planning department, building inspection division, the fire marshal’s office, and the state Health Department.
Source: Staff Report
Kevin Gambrill, planning director, and other members of the committee explained to Crawley and Danielson the planning process includes submitting a site plan for any proposed business and the need to meet a variety of requirements to build or operate a business in a floodplain location such as the Gentry site. They also said the Planning Board process requires notification of nearby property owners and a public hearing.
Danielson said after the hearing the cultivation operation is in the planning process and they hadn't made any decisions.
"We're just trying to identify the best area," he said.
Arkansas voters approved the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment 53 percent to 47 percent in November. The state created the Medical Marijuana Commission to set up the rules to grant licenses to dispensaries and cultivation facilities based on the merit of their applications. The commission divided the state into eight zones with four dispensaries possible apiece. The five cultivation facilities allowed don't have to be spread out.
Applications for cultivation facilities cost $15,000. Unsuccessful applicants will get $7,500 back.
Applicants must provide proof of assets or a surety bond of $1 million and proof of at least $500,000 in liquid assets. Successful applicants will have to pay an annual $100,000 licensing fee and submit an initial $500,000 performance bond.
The application period is set to open July 1, although state lawmakers haven't yet approved the commission's rules. The amendment requires 60 percent of a facility's owners be from Arkansas, but doesn't specify what share of the business' ownership Arkansans must hold.
The Medical Marijuana Commission, which issues the permits for cultivators and dispensers, is one of three state agencies involved in implementing the medical marijuana program. The state's Alcoholic Beverage Control will inspect the facilities and the Health Department will issue registry cards to patients whose doctors have recommended the drug.
No action was taken on the proposal after Wednesday's meeting.
The committee also discussed a possible location for the proposed Arkansas Veterans Village with founder Sharon Whelchel. Whelchel told the panel she's still looking for property for the operation, which she said would provide a number of "tiny homes" for veterans who are homeless or struggling and a larger facility for older veterans who need some assistance.
The committee explained an operation of the size Whelchel is considering would be less costly if she can find a site with public water and sewer available. Otherwise, the development would go through the normal planning process and meet the requirements for a detailed site plan, approved plans for a septic system or private sewer system and county standards for the private roads in the development.
The committee also discussed a possible wedding venue for property on Esculapia Hollow Road near Rogers with developer Shane Le.
NW News on 04/27/2017