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Date: 6/22/2022
WILLIAMSBURG – Following a Town Meeting approval of marijuana establishments, a potential home business went before the Williamsburg Planning Board to discuss plans for a cultivation setup.
Kaya O’Connell-Karl, representing NuGrow LLC, went before the board at its June 13 meeting to propose a 300-square-foot cannabis cultivation operation. He said that five years ago he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, causing him to evaluate his life and what he was passionate about. O’Connell-Karl said he has followed the developments in the cannabis industry and felt this would be a good concept to pursue.
“It’s a business for me, but I’ve never been a business person,” he said. “It’s not just profits – what can I do with the resources I’m generating?”
Along with the cultivation setup, O’Connell-Karl hopes to start a dialogue with other cannabis growers and see what they can learn from one another and create a healthier product.
“I’d like to start a public forum where other cultivators can talk and find ways to reduce the use of unnecessary additives,” he said. “The more immediate goal is developing a strong product and getting a dialogue going. How much can we give away to benefit the entirety of the market?”
At the June 6 Annual Town Meeting, residents approved changes to the zoning bylaw regarding marijuana. This included requiring that cultivation be indoors only and limited to only 2,000 square feet of canopy. The changes set the buffer distance from a school for a marijuana establishments (non-medical) to 300 feet, the same as for medical marijuana. The prohibition on marijuana establishments in buildings with residences was removed as part of the new bylaws.
O’Connell-Karl said the business would be run out of their home and hoped to have limited signage or other indicators of the operation, for safety reasons.
“If you hold up a sign and says ‘here is small family-owned business with a cash crop and what it’s worth,’ come rob us is the feeling we get,” he said. “We’re not opposed to saying we’re here, but our best security is not to announce it.”
Planning Board Chair Steve Smith said that until the Attorney General’s Office approves the new bylaws, this proposal wouldn’t be allowed under the current regulations. He expected this to be done within 90 days, adding that such changes are rarely rejected. He outlined the steps the proponent would need to take, including applying for a special permit and site plan review, notifying abutters and meeting with the police to review the proposal.
Regarding the publicity of such a plan, Smith said there was no way around the requirement for a public hearing. He said with marijuana establishments being new to the town and state, any use is controversial.
“The challenge of this being in your home, but that’s your choice,” he said. “That’s for you to navigate. Unfortunately, your neighbors will have to know. It’s a question of who goes on the mailing list.”
Smith added that elements such as sound, odor, drainage and impact to wetlands would need to be reviewed, and he recommended the proponent speak with the town administrator. Once the application process is complete, a joint hearing with the Zoning Board of Appeals will need to be scheduled.
“It may sound excessive, but that’s what we’re interested in,” said Smith. “Is there a dumpster, how many people work here? The more you give us, the easier our job is.”