COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A request from Yuma Way of Colorado for a Special Land Use Permit which is needed to establish a proposed Recreational Marijuana Grow operation at 127 Industrial Avenue has drawn the ire of a nearby business owner.
The request is scheduled to be considered by Coldwater Planning Commission Monday night.
In a letter that was included in the Planning Commission’s packet, Putman Machine Products President and General Manager Rob Putnam asked Coldwater Mayor Tom Kramer “to please do everything in your power as mayor and a concerned citizen of Coldwater to prevent the establishment of a marijuana grow operation within the industrial park of Coldwater.” Putnam says the grow facility will give off a “horrible smell” and that, “The establishment of a marijuana grow facility next to our business would not only destroy the nearby property values, but make it difficult to maintain employees.” Putnam went on to say that the business will be forced to relocate should the marijuana grow facility’s smell can not be mitigated which would mean the loss of 40 jobs.
Putnam Machine Products has been a part of the Coldwater business community for 64 years.
Yuma Way wants to operate the Marijuana Grow Establishment from the southern portion of the industrial building at 127 Industrial Avenue. They have included two letters of reference which stated they implemented an odor control plan for their facility in Denver and that they have complied with all local and state regulations. The City of Coldwater’s zoning codes has numerous requirements marijuana grow operations must follow to control and eliminate odors. The proposed Class C establishment is in an area zoned D-2 Heavy Industrial.
Two other marijuana-related requests are on Monday’s agenda. Galenas Michigan, LLC is requesting permission to operate an Adult Use Recreational Marijuana Processing Establishment and an accessory Retail Establishment from the vacant property at 290 Butters Avenue while Northeast Alternatives, Inc. of Fall River, Massachusetts is requesting permission to operate an Adult Use Recreational Marijuana Retail Establishment from the western most suite of the commercial strip development which was previously occupied by Radio Shack.
The fourth ward already has too many overpowering odors coming from the industrial park. No more and shut down the abusers we have.