CUMMINGTON — Jasa Farms is putting its plans to build a cultivation facility on Bryant Road on hold, after encountering some resistance on the Zoning Board of Appeals.
“At this time it doesn’t seem like it’s something we’re going to be able to do,” said Rich Rainone, Jasa Farms’ owner.
Jasa Farms has been seeking to create an outdoor grow facility of up to 100,000 square feet in cultivation. However, Rainone said that the project got a lot of resistance, mostly from two members of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
“The Zoning Board was not interested in an outdoor grow,” said Rainone.
Jasa Farms’ hearing in front of the Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled to be continued Wednesday at 7 p.m. However, Rainone said that the board has been informed that the company will not be in attendance.
Michael Holden, a Zoning Board of Appeals member, said the hearing on the matter will still continue.
Kenneth “Trudge” Howes, who serves on both the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Select Board, said that based on the previous meeting, he thought Jasa Farms would alter their plans and move to do their cultivation in a greenhouse.
Howes noted that town bylaws allow for 20,000 square feet or less of marijuana cultivation, and that all of this cultivation must happen within an indoor facility.
“If anyone can satisfy the bylaws it’s permitted,” Howes said.
Jasa Farms was seeking a special permit that would have waived both the indoor cultivation and the 20,000-square-foot limit requirements. It has a host community agreement with Cummington that allows for an outdoor grow off Bryant Road, providing permission is granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Rainone also owns Daze Cannabis, which is opening a retail facility in Holyoke in August The company is also doing site work and has licenses pending for a retail facility in Douglas, as well as a growing and manufacturing facility in that community.
Rainone expressed disappointment in the outcome for Jasa Farms, but he said the project is not being abandoned all together.
“We never close the door,” he said.
And although Rainone said that it’s putting a pause on the application for a permit at the state level, he also said said that it is not bei ng withdrawn.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.