TURNERS FALLS — Hydroflower, the marijuana grower expected to move into the former Southworth building, will be discussing its plans and taking questions from the community in an online meeting on March 23, at 6:30 p.m.
The online discussion will start with a public outreach session, in which representatives of the company will discuss the plans for the business and take questions.
“This is a chance for the community to come in and hear from the applicants,” said Montague Town Planner Walter Ramsey.
Immediately following that will be the Planning Board’s hearing for the company’s permit, one of the necessary legal pieces for the company to operate in Montague.
Hydroflower is notable not only for being another new marijuana company to open in Montague, but also for its plans to move into the long-vacant mill building that was occupied by the Southworth paper company until it abruptly closed in August 2017.
Hydroflower CEO Ryan Ward met with the Montague Selectboard in January, along with Tom Cusano, the developer who bought the former Southworth building in 2019.
Ward is a co-founder of the East Coast Cannabis Company, which is based in Maine, and has also been involved in marijuana businesses in Pennsylvania. He could not be reached for comment on the upcoming meeting.
According to documents submitted to the Planning Board, Hydroflower plans to start operations in an area of about 40,000 square feet within the Southworth building, with a goal of gradually expanding to a space of about 100,000 square feet.
Impact on the surrounding area is expected to be minimal. The plan would make no significant changes to the exterior of the building, except for improved lighting for security purposes. Odors of the facility would be managed with the same technology used in Ward’s facility in Maine, which works successfully, according to the submitted documents.
The historic quality of the Canal District is acknowledged in the plan. Ramsey said the key takeaway is that the plan would make no significant changes to the exterior of the building.
Ramsey also noted that having the building maintained by an interested tenant effectively serves to preserve it.
“I see having a tenant in the mill as part of historic preservation,” he said.
While the proposed use is consistent with the current zoning of the building, the marijuana grower will likely be better suited to the location than the paper manufacturer, which relied on moving tractor trailers through the narrow roads of the Canal District, Ramsey added. Hydroflower will not need that.
“This is actually going to be an improvement over historical conditions,” he said.
According to the Montague town website, the meeting will be held via Zoom, and can be accessed using Meeting ID: 979 1965 8908; Passcode: 551284. Residents can also participate by phone by calling 646-558-8656. To view Hydroflower’s plans, visit bit.ly/30zMuJ5.
Reach Max Marcus at mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.