The Salem Planning Commission unanimously has rejected a special use permit for a craft cannabis grow facility in the west side Salem Industrial Park. The vote came after more than two hours of testimony and questions pointed to Hometown Heroes LLC which is proposing the $10-million facility that would employ 30 to 50 people.
The planning commission’s recommendation is not final and the issue now goes to the city council which is expected to take up the issue next Monday night. The approval of the permit is needed for Hometown Heroes to submit their application to the state which has 40 to 50 craft grower licenses that may be issued in the near future.
While much of the testimony centered on the pros and cons a cannabis-growing facility in Salem would have on the quality of life, others were concerned about the unanswered questions.
Among them was neighboring property owner Tracy Timmerman.
“What do we know about the facility? What do we know about the people involved in this? I don’t know anything.”
Chief Operating Officer David Belfiore admitted a lot of information could not be released without the signing of a non-disclosure agreement to protect their plan, but he tried to emphasize this would be a locally funded project and that local investors would be sought.
“You don’t have to worry about somebody with big money coming in and buying it because that is 100% of what we oppose. It is against our ethos. I don’t know how else to say it, everything we are setting out to do is about our name…Hometown Heroes. Everything we do is about our hometown.”
Chief Operating Officer of Hometown Heros consulting listens to a question from the audience after the cannabis grow facility. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Eventually, Belfiore allowed the 51-percent owner of the Salem facility, Tracy Murray, to identify himself.
“I lived here for 17 years I am originally from Patoka. I was the veteran they contacted and asked if I would be interested in doing this and I said yes. I think it would be great for my family, the community, people here that need a good job, and people who need help and are thinking about killing themselves. People trying to get off of heroin, OxyContin, or other drugs that either the VA or doctors around here have put them on.”
While Hometown Heroes explained the craft grow facility would be completely enclosed with fencing like the Centralia Correctional Center with armed guards for security, Planning Commission Administrator Bev Quinn said complete plans were not required at this point.
“We would not expect them to spend a fortune on a building and detention plan and wastewater runoff and all of that without having the permission with a special use to do that.”
Planning Commission Chair Rick McCullum added Hometown Heroes would have to have all their information in order before they could submit an application for one of the licenses to the state.
The planning commission members made no comments about the proposal before voting to reject the special use permit.
Hometown Heroes is also working to develop other potential locations for craft grow facilities.
Salem Planning Commission listens to testimony on special use permit needed for craft grow marijuana facility before unanimously rejecting the application. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
