HOLYOKE – The City Council approved special permits for cannabis cultivators Massbiology Technology LLC and EMB Natural Ventures LLC during a virtual session Tuesday night.
Massbiology proposes to build and operate a marijuana cultivation and processing facility at 6 Appleton St.
The permit requires Massbiology to add a bike rack. Holyoke Fire Department approves a generator for the site, finds an alternative fuel source, and “obtain site control of the area slated for parking.”
The Massachusetts Cannabis Commission requires all licensing applicants to apply for a special permit at the municipal level. The commission oversees the Commonwealth’s medical and recreational marijuana industry, an economic bright spot in Holyoke’s economy.
Councilor At-large Rebecca Lisi, who chairs the Ordinance Committee, said Massbiology’s application was “straightforward and very complete” during an April 13 committee hearing.
She noted the proposed exterior generator would run on diesel fuel and wanted the fire department to sign off. However, the committee recommended Massbiology find an alternative to diesel, citing the city’s high asthma rates.
The applicant had to address easement issues before the building project could begin, according to Lisi. The easements related to the slated parking spots.
“We’re doing well moving forward on the manufacturing end of the supply chain for cannabis. These are living-wage jobs with benefits,” Lisi said. Massbiology expects to hire 25 employees per shift. “This is a great opportunity for the city.”
EMB Naturals proposes a marijuana cultivation operation for 140 Middle Water St., providing the company gains site control and easements or property rights before construction and satisfy outstanding issues outlined in a letter by the City Engineer.
Jeffrey Dannenberg, of EMB naturals, said a “skeleton staff” must work after 8 p.m. because of the “nature of the growing.” EMB Naturals submitted the original application in April 2019. Since then, the project changed from a renovation to a rebuild of the structure.
Dannenberg asked the council to strike the 8 p.m. closing time. Ward 3 Councilor David Bartley opposed the amendment. He said the petitioner could request changes to the hours of operation in the future.
“The petitioner has the right to come back and amend the special permit based upon some kind of evidence,” Bartley said, “not just because.” He added that prior applicants accepted the council’s standard conditions.
Bartley said the burden fell on the petitioner and not the City Council. Lisi countered that two cannabis manufacturers have or would have around-the-clock operations.
Councilor At-large Joseph M. McGiverin said imposing limited hours on EMB Naturals, which plans to operate in a designated manufacturing zone, “made no sense.” During Holyoke’s manufacturing heyday, companies fielded three, eight-hour shifts, he added.
The council waived the hours of operation for EMB Naturals.
Bartley noticed the standard conditions were not attached to the applicants’ permits earlier in the meeting. Lisi said it was an oversight on her part. The applicants’ agreed to the amendments.
The council added the following conditions for both applicants:
- That the owner of the building always pays commercial property tax rate to the extent allowed by federal, state, and local laws for the duration of the special permit.
- That the businesses retain a minimum of 30% Holyoke residents for nonsecurity jobs.
- Hiring preference given to security personnel who are retired Holyoke Police or are a retired member of another police department who lives in Holyoke.
- There shall be no marijuana consumption allowed on-site.
- No deliveries of retail or medical marijuana from the site to individual homes, residences, or people.
- Microbiology operates between 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Ward 6 Councilor Juan Anderson-Burgos announced the death of activist and friend Mary Birks, the mother of former Ward 3 School Committee Member Dennis Birks.
“It’s with a very extreme, heavy heart and a very sad moment, not just for me obviously, but a lot of people in the community,” Anderson-Burgos said. He first met Birks during a tough time in his life.
“She was a constant force behind me, pushing me along, showing me my strengths and my worth,” he said. “Those things I didn’t think I even had. It was like an arrow to my heart when I heard the news.”
Anderson-Burgos led the City Council in a moment of silence.
Council President Todd McGee said the news of Birks passing was shocking. “To the family, our hearts go out to them, and we’re truly sorry for your loss,” McGee said.
The family requested that donations in Birks’ honor be made to Homework House, 54 N. Summer St., Holyoke, MA 01040.