HATFIELD — A company that will cultivate marijuana on several acres at 140A North Hatfeld Road comes before the Planning Board Thursday evening.
Beginning at 6 p.m. at Town Hall, a hearing begins on the application for site plan approval and special permit related to the request from Straits Rd LLC to use the site for growing marijuana both outdoors and in greenhouses.
Planning Board Chairwoman Stephanie Slysz said the project is the first of what is expected to be four growers on the 38-acre site.
Local farmer Bernie Smiarowski is spearheading the project and will own the land on which the crops are grown.
If approved by the board, this would be the second marijuana cultivation operation running in town. Two years ago, the board approved a marijuana farm off Main Street and near the Connecticut River and the Whately town line.
Straits Rd LLC will have to comply with setbacks adopted by Town Meeting that include being at least 500 feet away from an any preexisting residential use not located on the same lot with the marijuana establishment, and at least 300 feet away from preexisting residential uses in the industrial, light industrial and commercial districts.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
