GREENFIELD — The Planning Board wants more information on the particulars of marijuana cultivation before voting on a potential moratorium on outdoor grow facilities and on amendments to the city’s zoning ordinance relative to marijuana establishments.
A pared-down version of the board met remotely Thursday evening to discuss members’ concerns. Chair Charles Roberts, Vice Chair George Touloumtzis and member David Chichester talked about the issue amongst themselves until alternate Amy McMahan tuned in a half-hour after the meeting had started.
Chichester, who suggested a one-year moratorium on outdoor grow facilities, said he is worried about odor as well as water consumption.
“And not much has been said about that, but I’m thinking that it might be useful for us to take a more in-depth look at that,” he said, suggesting perhaps a water expert could shed some light on the topic. “And I’m thinking we need some expertise here that we don’t have as a board to look at some of these issues.”
Roberts said he wants to know where the water would come from.
“In a lot of the rural neighborhoods, water service is provided by private wells as opposed to the town water,” he said. “So, how does that affect the water table?”
Chichester said it will take “an enormous amount of time” to assemble the necessary information.
“The more expertise we can assemble, the better off I think we’ll be in the long run,” he said, noting that at least 58 people had tuned into the meeting at one point.
Roberts said odor is best controlled with an indoor facility, though that carries the potential for large infrastructure. He suggested a moratorium of six months to one year, while Chichester wants a minimum of 12 months.
“I am fully in favor of a moratorium,” Chichester said. “Anything less than a year puts a lot of pressure on the process.”
Roberts and Touloumtzis said the board welcomes communication via email to City Planner Eric Twarog at eric.twarog@greenfield-ma.gov.
The Planning Board’s next meeting is slated for June 2. The agenda is available at bit.ly/3MGnBCc.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.