Jessica Zeoli
Express correspondent
Halifax townspeople were introduced Tuesday night to the 4 Daughters Compassionate Care marijuana grow facility proposed for Halifax.
After the Board of Selectmen met Tuesday, Nov. 28 for various housekeeping tasks, the meeting re-assembled upstairs for a presentation regarding a potential marijuana greenhouse facility to be located on the border of Halifax and Middleborough.
Brian Striar, CEO of 4 Daughters Compassionate Care, the company proposing the project, explained that the land where they wish to put the facility would be on the southern border of Halifax near River, Thompson, and Wood streets.
The greenhouses would serve completely as a place to grow the marijuana, where no selling or dispensing would take place. The facility would contain 24/7 video surveillance, along with a 10-foot fence surrounding. All entrances would require an ID to pass through as well.
The greenhouses would contain metal sheets which would cover up over 10 feet of the sides, with tinted glass at the tops, preventing anyone driving by from knowing the type of plants growing inside. There would also be brush blocking view of the greenhouses from the street.
The company has already begun a similar project in Sharon and have experimented in Colorado. 4 Daughters Compassionate Care has also conducted research among universities on the uses, and efficient growing techniques of marijuana plants. Striar is predicting 40,000 square feet of plants to start which would produce 12,000 pounds of marijuana, 3% of revenue would return to the town, estimating about $660,000 profit for the town. Striar says this amount is only for stage one of this process, and if successful, could skyrocket to a couple million of dollars for the town in later phases of the project.
Along with helping the community with tax cuts, the facility could also provide 20 to 50 job opportunities for members of the town. 4 Sisters Compassionate Care is interested in hiring as many citizens of Halifax as possible.
The project was brought up for discussion among the citizens attending the meeting. one concerned citizen asked, “Will trucks be going through the center of our town, and if so, are the vehicles neutral so no one knows they contain marijuana?”
The question was quickly answered by stating the trucks are encouraged to use route 105 to route 44 to avoid any of these concerns. Next, a question regarding the change in property value for homes near the facility came forth. It was explained that the homes are a quarter of a mile away from the facility, making it not a threat to property value.
The next item of concern – the odor – was brought forth by a member of the community. It was stated that the odor was tested by blowing fans from the greenhouses to one area. After a quarter mile, the smell was no longer apparent. The closest home is within a quarter mile of the potential facility. Also, by adding vents at the tops of the greenhouses, the smell would be released higher, making the distance for the odor to travel smaller and not noticeable.
The opinions of the members of the board all seemed to favor of the facility, although none of the members had previously voted in favor of Question 4, which legalized marijuana in the state of Massachusetts. Board member Kim Roy stated, “The facility should be considered by the town since the income could offset tax bills.”
Troy Garron, Clerk, stated, “If it were a dispensary, forget it. But since it is not, it could professionally solve concerns of high taxes.” It was followed up by Thomas Millias, Chairman, who stated it was a great idea since one small facility could equal the profit of about six Walmarts within the town.
After the small concerns of the community were addressed by 4 Sisters Compassionate Care, it was unanimously agreed as a good potential plan for revenue for the town of Halifax.
The next Selectmen’s meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 12.
