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Date: 1/9/2024
WARE — At its Jan. 4 meeting, the Ware Planning Board discussed the uncertain future of Minuteman Farm, due to the potential expiration of their special permit to construct a marijuana growth facility.
During the meeting, Planning and Community Development Director Paralee Smith read a Nov. 28, 2023, statement from the company’s attorney, which stated that work had paused at its 24 E. Main St. site “due to substantial changes in the markets.” She explained that the site has not seen progress since July 2023 and the company was “waiting for financing.”
Minuteman Farm first requested a special permit to construct a concrete building for growing marijuana on June 23, 2021, according to town documents. Following two public hearings on July 15, 2021, and Aug. 19, 2021, the request was approved by the Planning Board under specific conditions.
These conditions dictated the building’s constructions hours and required the work to remain in alignment with state and local building requirements. Additionally, the conditions stated that “if construction ceases to operate and the project is left incomplete, the special permit shall be null and void six months after construction has stopped.”
With their recent inactivity, Minuteman Farm is currently facing the likelihood of their special permit’s expiration, Planning Board Vice Chair Richard Starodoj said. He recommended the board consult the town attorney on the situation.
Smith also stated the board needed to confirm with Building Commissioner Anna Marques. Reminder Publishing reached out to Marques but did not hear back before press time.
“I don’t want to discourage any type of businesses coming in or anything but if we put that [expiration after six months of inactivity] in the conditions and everybody agreed to it … that’s what we really need to enforce otherwise we’re meaningless,” Starodoj stated.
Senior housing
The Planning Board also briefly discussed the town’s available senior housing. Smith explained that a presentation on the Ware Senior Housing Plan will be given at the Planning Board’s Jan. 18 meeting to review trends and plan for housing in the future.
“Our current demographic is trending upward, older and staying there. We’re not going to get an influx of young people. We’re not getting an influx of families,” Smith said. “We’re actually supposed to lose 800 people between now and 2040 so [the Jan. 18 presentation is] just trying to look at having a plan for senior housing and smart sustainability.”
During the discussion, Starodoj also suggested that other facilities, such as a healthcare center, may be needed to care for the town’s aging population in addition to increased affordable housing.
The Planning Board’s Jan. 18 meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room, the Planning and Community Development Department confirmed.