Hometown Heroes Consulting is quickly moving forward to try and clear the way for a craft marijuana growing facility in the Westside Salem Industrial Park.
Salem City Manager Rex Barbee says Matt Lowery is working with the city’s realtor for a 14-acre site east of the spec building and north of the Cottages at Salem as the potential location. He anticipates a sealed bid will be presented at the April 4th City Council meeting for an option to purchase the land if the development group is able to get a state license for a grow facility. The city council earlier declared the Industrial Park land as surplus allowing for it to be sold.
Barbee says if the city council approves the proposal, the Salem Planning Commission will be asked at its Tuesday, April 12th, meeting to approve a special use permit for the facility. Due to the anticipated large crowd at the hearing, the meeting has been moved to the Salem Community Activity Center. The meeting will begin at six pm.
The Planning Commission’s recommendation will then come back to the city council at its April 18th meeting for a final decision.
Lowery told the city council on Monday evening the state will be awarding 50 craft growing facility licenses. He says all the cannabis will be grown inside a highly secured 15,000 square foot facility. The cannabis will all be transported out of the area, with NO local sales. Lowery said they would be seeking a $10-million investor for the project that could create 30 to 50 jobs.
The city council on Monday night agreed to allow cannabis grow facilities as a special use in Industrial Zones throughout the city.
