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Date: 3/1/2023
BELCHERTOWN – Since Jan. 10, the Planning Board has been meeting with members from CLCash LLC for a proposal to receive a special permit to open a non-medical marijuana establishment.
At its Feb. 14 meeting, the Planning Board voted 3-2 in favor of issuing the permit, but a special permit requires four of five affirmative votes meaning the permit was denied.
Jason Snodgrass and Matt O’ Boyle were the two representatives from CLCash LLC presenting the project.
The meetings between the Planning Board and CLCash LLC provided too much uncertainty, according to members of the board.
Planning Board Vice Chair Michael Hofler said, “I would like to see this building be reused and the town get the tax revenue for this. We have had this site in front of us several other times from other companies and they have been able to provide us with the information that we have been trying to pull out. I do not have confidence that this applicant can make it happen and use the building for the purpose they are asking for.”
CLCash LLC proposed partial occupancy of an existing building at 401 Mill Valley Rd. for a distribution center. The building was originally used for refrigeration and food distribution but has been vacant for the last few years.
O’ Boyle said that there would be no exterior alterations to the site or building besides minor modifications required by the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC). He also showed where the delivery of the product would take place.
O’ Boyle added that there will only be a “handful” of employees in the building.
Charles Crapps, a Belchertown resident, is the cultivator and has had the lease on the building for over a year.
Crapps explained that nothing would be sold out of the building and was only looking for a special permit for distribution of the product.
He added an unmarked van would be transporting the marijuana to Boston and Northampton to supply wholesale to recreational facilities.
The biggest concerns from the Planning Board were the potential complaint of odors, the amount of wastewater generated, ventilation, protocols in case of a spill and a security plan.
Planning Board Chair Dan Beaudette asked about equipment for odor control, where the discharged air goes and ventilation.
O’Boyle said, “The odor will be controlled. Anywhere there are plants the odor will be controlled. That is the bedrooms, mother rooms, clone rooms and flower rooms. The filtration system will have fans and activated carbon filters without using additives.”
Crapps added, “All odors will be filtered through a carbon charcoal filter to prevent odors from escaping.”
Planning Board member Jim Natle asked if the ventilation and air purification system could be further explained but CLCash did not provide anything specific.
Hofler said even though the board had a general idea of the project, they needed more specifics that are required to approve the permit.
“We need to know what we are voting on before we vote,” he added.
Planning Board member Elizabeth Pols added, “This is not our first such application. We have approved them. We have never had an issue with an applicant not going through the process with the police before, or the health department before we even begin to look at your documents.”
Snodgrass was confused by the application process but said that he will look it over and provide the information by their next meeting.
The Planning Board tabled the discussion and revisited it again at its Jan. 24 meeting when CLCash had more information regarding the water systems, sewage water handling system, storage system, disposal procedures and the odor control.
The board also wanted to see a letter from the Police Department approving the security plan and a letter from the Board of Health approving everything else.
After two weeks, the meeting on Jan. 24 produced similar results with the Planning Board stating that they wanted more specifics and written plans instead of hearing the process is being followed.
Representatives from CLCash expressed some misunderstandings about the application process when they did not provide the Planning Board the letter from the Police Department or have a clear understanding on the Board of Health requirements.
Hofler said, “We would like to see the written documentation that covers odor control, the water, the solid waste and anything else needing technical review. I want to be clear that the board cannot approve something that is just being presented; we need materials in advance to study.”
Snodgrass responded, “We want to follow an rules or regulations that we need to. I am not clear on the Board of Health requirements. We can’t make an agreement until we better understand those requirements. When we look at the CCC’s requirements that are significant, and they talk about minimal spillage.”
After meeting with CLCash LLC for another hour at its Feb. 14 meeting, members of the board still were uncertain regarding the group taking over the building.
They discussed that according to the lease, there is a 250 gallon limit to the septic tank and none of the cannabis water is allowed in the septic unit.
Crapps stated that about 150 gallons of water per day is anticipated per day for use but Planning Board member Jim Natle thought the question of how much wastewater is being generated was not answered.
O’ Boyle said that the well will be metered to make sure they will not exceed the limit.
Hofler felt that he did not have enough information to vote yes and heard “we will take care of it” too much instead of “here is the information.”