Permit approved for pot cultivation facility in Washington County

FAYETTEVILLE -- Planning board members approved Washington County's first permit for a marijuana cultivation facility near Lincoln and Cane Hill during a meeting Thursday.

It could become one of five facilities for growing pot for medical use, if the state approves it for a license.

Background

The Medical Marijuana Commission began taking applications to license five cultivation sites and 32 dispensaries in June. The commission was expected to award licenses sometime after Sept. 18, which was the deadline for applications. Voters approved an amendment legalizing medical marijuana for patients with certain qualifying medical conditions last year.

Source: Staff report

Web watch

For a look at rules and regulations on the oversight of medical marijuana cultivation facilities and dispensaries, http://www.dfa.arka…">click here.

The proposed facility is on 48 acres zoned for agriculture and residential home use. The property is in the southwestern portion of the county off of Bush Road, records show. The area is very rural, Senior Planner Nathan Crouch said.

Native Flower, which is listed as a nonprofit organization with the secretary of state, is behind the facility. The proposal is to build a 1.5-acre facility with 4,160-square-foot work center, or "head house," and four 3,840-square-foot greenhouses, county records show.

[EMAIL UPDATES: Get free breaking news updates and daily newsletters with top headlines delivered to your inbox]

Native Flower LLC was incorporated in January, then dissolved. The nonprofit corporation, Native Flower, filed with the state July 19, secretary of state records show. The group is in good standing.

The property is owned by Parcs LLC, a company based in Lowell, according to records. Kendra Smith, who is listed in state records as an officer for Parcs, is the CEO for Native Flower, according to documents.

The application for a permit was made by Tom Smith.

Native Flower plans high-level security, including 8-foot-tall fencing and proposed security cameras, Crouch said.

Traffic is expected to be low with only about five employees and seven parking places at the facility, he said. Hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week. Security will be on site at all times, he said.

There is potential to expand the facility later, planning staff said.

The site meets the county's minimum requirements, but the permit still must be approved by the Quorum Court, Crouch said. Later, the planning board would consider a development permit, which would include looking at building material, he said.

Two neighbors sent planning staff comments supporting the facility and one opposed it, Crouch said.

On Thursday, the board approved the facility with conditions. The move was made over the objections of two neighbors who worried the facility would lower property values and increase crime. People may seek out the facility and look for drugs, raising traffic and crime concerns, said Shane Grisham, who owns property to the north of the site.

Grisham said he is halfway finished building a $300,000 home on 11 acres for his family. He would be able to see the cultivation facility from his front porch, if it is built, he said.

"Basically, I just want to come here and say: Please don't approve it," Grisham said. "We plan to be there the rest of our lives."

NW News on 10/06/2017

Upcoming Events