The Salem City Council has agreed to allow craft marijuana growing facilities as a special use in industrial zones.
The decision came at the request of Matt Lowery of Hometown Heroes Consulting who is making an application to the state for one of 50 growing facilities to soon be awarded.
Lowery told the council time is running out for them to get in on the booming cannabis industry and its tax revenue. He is estimating 30 to 50 jobs would be created by the facility he would like to locate on city-owned ground in the Westside Industrial Park south of Jarco.
“We are shooting for about $10-million investor to put a facility in. As of right now, the craft grows at 15,000 square feet of flower, which is harvestable produce. Which will be shipped out of Salem to the dispensaries to the Metro East area and to Chicago.”
Lowery says his group would try and obtain as many of the licenses as possible to benefit Southern Illinois. Lowery says the facility would give no indication cannabis was being grown inside and the state requires very high-security measures.
Two spoke in opposition. Dwayne Collier said he thought the opposition was clear at a Planning Commission hearing in 2019 when overwhelming opposition led to the commission not to recommend allowing cannabis facilities in any zoning district.
Brock Waggoner added. “It is something we do not want in Salem. Salem has resoundingly said no we do not want the marijuana business in Salem. When you start growing it here you bring in other issues with a crime that we are already starting to see coming in from surrounding cities. It’s also promoting continued increased drug use that we are also seeing in this county. So it’s something we do not need to be involved with, we need to keep it away. Because even the presence of the evilness that marijuana brings into this community does not need to be had.”
Councilman Craig Morton made the motion which was seconded by Jim Koehler to create the special use in the Industrial Zones instead of starting the planning commission hearing process all over again on what areas of the city grow facilities should be allowed. Councilman Royce Bringwald voted no based on calls of opposition after it was announced the issue would be on the agenda. Mayor Nic Farley cast the deciding vote in favor after earlier noting the benefits Albion has received from a grow facility and no negative impacts. Councilman Amy Troutt was absent.
City Manager Rex Barbee said after the meeting work still needs to be done before a proposal moves forward and Hometown Heroes does not have an option on the city land.
“They have not submitted an offer at this particular point of time. I do want to point out to the general public that the whole topic of the crop grow facility coming to Salem is not something council started, it was brought up by a local resident so we are being responsive and addressing the issue.”
If a site is finalized, the zoning commission will hold a public hearing on allowing it as a special use. The city council would then have the final say so.
