CARLISLE-Carlisle Village Council may repeal its moratorium for cultivation of medical marijuana as well as sell land in the village’s business park for a marijuana grow facility.
Council will meet at 6 p.m. today to continue a discussion from its June 12 meeting on the land purchase and the proposed moratorium repeal.
The village has been approached by a business interested in purchasing 10 acres of land in the Carlisle Business Park, located off Ohio 123, to build a marijuana growing facility, according to Mayor Randy Winkler.
The business is seeking a Tier 1 cultivator permit from the state that would allow the construction of a grow facility of 25,000 square feet with the potential to expand up to 75,000 square feet, according to Winkler.
The project, estimated to create 20 to 25 jobs, is contingent on obtaining the state permit. Winkler said they business is planning to cultivate the marijuana and ship it to a processor who would extract the oils to produce the medical product.
The business interest is also proposing to purchase the village-owned land in the business park for $45,000 an acre.
“We are considering it,” Winkler said. “But it’s not a done deal yet.”
Winkler said he and other council members have reached out to some residents to get some feedback about the proposal.
“For the most part, 92 percent said ‘we’ve got no problem with it’ while others had some concerns, but not as a growing facility,” he said. “The sale of the land would help the village considerably, but we have to get our T’s crossed and our I’s dotted.”
Carlisle council approved a six-month moratorium in February to allow time to review the state’s rules for cultivation and dispensing.
“We certainly don’t want to do anything that would harm or hurt our community, but the opportunity to pay off debt and create jobs is something we would consider,” Winkler said.
He said the city still owes some debt for infrastructure improvements at the Carlisle Business Park.
Village council meets at Village Hall, 760 Central Ave.
credit:journal-news.com
