Photo by: Cannabis can now be grown in agricultural areas of Graham County, not just industrial estates.
John Johnson
john johnson news@gmail.com
SAFORD – After hearing from proponents at a public meeting during a special session of the Graham County Board of Supervisors on Monday and discussion at an enforcement session, the BOS will approve a text amendment to allow the cultivation of cannabis in agricultural areas. voted 2 to 1 for
The statute amendment received adverse recommendations from the Planning and Zoning Committee, and all three supervisors opposed the amendment, saying it was too vague and gave too much leeway for tillage. .
Essentially, the Amendment permits cannabis cultivation in both MX Industrial Zones and A Agriculture/General Land Use Zones. Operations are limited to 300 acres per site and must be 1,000 feet away from residential areas from the outside wall of the grow field. The amendment also sets opening hours for retail cannabis businesses from 8am to 8pm. The amendment also states that movable structures, such as hoop houses, do not qualify as closed structures, such as greenhouses.
Corrections to the text were submitted by Carolyn Oberholzer on behalf of Pamela Brooks, who wishes to grow in a greenhouse located in the Jeronimo district. According to Graham County Planning and Zoning Director Steve McGaughey, the facility is approximately 12,000 to 15,000 square feet. Another greenhouse, approximately 10,000 square feet in size, is also about to start growing in the Bonita area.
Graham County Executive Director Vance Bryce said he favored the amendment, saying it would align with changes to the previously banned cannabis law.
According to Heather Dukes, Bayacan’s attorney, the passage of the text amendment will allow Bayacan LLC, which has greenhouses at Nature Sweet’s facility in Bonita, to grow operations in these greenhouses without the need for any difference. allowed to proceed.
BOS previously voted 2-1 to change the zoning of the site from agriculture to MX industry to grow cannabis. Graham County voters used Proposition 401 to approve the move in the recent general election. Bayakan had asked for changes to start farming, but with the amendment passed, the company should be ready to move forward.
“I want to argue that we don’t need diversification anymore,” Mr. Dukes told the board. “The surrounding area is not used for housing. All around that greenhouse is farmland. It’s a vineyard. It’s an orchard. It’s a commercial Thoroughbred farm. . “NatureSweet and Bayacan are ready to move forward and file the applications they need, even with these changes.”
Returning from an executive session, Chairman Paul David said that in a perfect world, he would like to be able to amend text corrections, and that the county would be open to small, non-commercial, “boutique” cannabis businesses. I said I was concerned. farm management. He also raised the issue of allowing open-air cultivation and processing, which is permitted in the amendment.
“There are some sections that are very rough and unresolved and for me are undesirable, which makes it very difficult to accept and approve,” said David.
Following his remarks, District 2 Supervisor John Howard also agreed with him, saying it was too broad and vague.
“It’s very difficult to see, and like you said, we can’t fix text corrections at this time,” Howard said. “It’s very difficult to say that moving this forward will open a large can of worms.”
District 3 Supervisor Danny Smith agreed with the other supervisors on the broad scope of the text corrections. And since it’s a “take or leave” proposition and P+Z voted unanimously against it, Smith said he doesn’t agree with the amendment either.
Following his remarks, David moved to approve the textual amendment, and after a brief pause, both voted in favor, with Howard upholding the motion and Smith contributing the sole dissenting opinion. rice field.
A correction to the text was approved, and David said he was considering making his own changes.
“We will be busy making the necessary changes,” said David.
Due to current regulations, cannabis cultivation in Graham County is now open to a much wider area, as most of Graham County is in agricultural general land use designation. Operations should be 1,000 feet away from residential areas from the outer wall of the nursery.
