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Date: 10/30/2023
HOLLAND — During its Oct. 24 meeting, the Planning Board hosted a public hearing for residents to ask questions about Canna Mountain’s special permit application for a cannabis establishment.
During the hearing that lasted just over 90 minutes, several residents raised concerns with questions either answered by Jim LaMountain, the representative of the property owner, or noted by the board as requiring more investigation.
Planning Board Chair William Robertson began the meeting by emphasizing the importance of hearing the public’s thoughts on the project.
“What we want to do as a board is to hear the input of the community — the abutters specifically,” he said, “[We want to hear] any kind of questions or concerns so that we can take that information back with us when we deliberate and try to come up with a decision on the town’s behalf.”
With the Host Community Agreement submitted on Oct. 22, 2021, the process of approving Canna Mountain’s project to construct a cannabis establishment has taken multiple years, LaMountain stated. The public hearing was another step.
LaMountain also clarified that the entire property would not be affected by the special permit and that the farm would continue to support agriculture and livestock while only a portion supported cannabis.
One resident who spoke up during the hearing was Richard Haller, director of the Open Space Committee. He stated concerns about the establishment’s interference with Hamilton Reservoir and Stevens Brook. Since both are within a few miles of Canna Mountain, Haller encouraged the Planning Board to ensure that the natural landscapes would not be impacted by the cannabis establishment.
Furthermore, Haller also requested that the height of the establishment be made public and that the buildings are constructed so they are not visible from nearby trails.
Resident Dan Burns raised similar discussions. He highlighted that even if buildings aren’t visible from outside the property, the establishment could still cause issues from increased traffic on Mashapaug Road as well as additional light and noise pollution.
“I moved to a small town for a reason,” Burns said, explaining that the cannabis establishment may create unintended consequences for Holland residents.
Lake Oversight Committee Chair Cari Kay Robertson agreed with Burns’ sentiment. She also warned that Holland may not be able to use the funds from the establishment as freely as they desired and suggested that the project’s drawbacks could minimize its benefits.
“I personally have a concern with the fact that these businesses are still illegal at the federal level,” she said, “The federal government can seize these monies at any time.”
The meeting concluded with Robertson thanking residents for sharing their questions and stating that he would look into posting an official document describing the project on the Planning Board’s website, as requested by a resident.