Four Daughters Compassionate Care, LLC, has submitted to Halifax selectmen a Host Community Agreement (HCA) as one of the first steps toward the construction of a marijuana cultivation and/or manufacturing facility on River Street.
Halifax selectmen are accepting comments, questions, and concerns about the HCA in time for the Board’s discussion at its meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m.
In addition to the process Four Daughters Compassionate Care will follow, the HCA outlines the Community Impact payments of 3% of the gross wholesales of marijuana cultivated at the premises and 3% of the marijuana infused products. The first of these payments would be made within three months following the first date of sale of marijuana, and continue on an annual basis.
Up to a 60,000 square foot commercial space is planned for the 45-acre parcel for the purpose of operating a cultivation and/or product manufacturing facility under a Registered Marijuana Dispensary (RMD) Certificate of Registration as defined by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Medical Marijuana Program.
The entire HCA can be viewed online at http://www.town.halifax.ma.us/…/fourdaughtersHCA20180108.pdf)
While the Host Community Agreement covers several subjects, it is not a zoning permit. Any proposed facility would have to obtain a “special permit” from the Zoning Board of Appeals (a public hearing is required with notice to abutters) and approval of a site plan from the Planning Board. A proposal has not been submitted to either Board. Both steps will be publicized here and in other venues
Town administrator Charlie Seelig assures Halifax residents that while there may be concerns regarding noise, lighting, and odors, these matters will not be addressed as part of the HCA; they would properly be part of any discussion of the possible approval of a special permit and site plan for this facility. The signing of the HCA is just one step in the process. Four Daughters will need to obtain various zoning permits in Halifax, along with whichever permits the State requires.
November 28, 2017, Halifax hosted an informational meeting in the Town Hall where residents were invited to hear about the Four Daughters Compassionate Care proposal and ask questions at that time.
The presentation was recorded and can be watched on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyirPfa7lYA (forum begins at 26:23 into the selectmen’s meeting).
If selectmen do sign an HCA with Four Daughters and Four Daughters moves forward with this project, then a public hearing will be held as required under state regulations. Abutters will be notified and the hearing will be publicized.