SOUTHWICK – An Southwick business is looking to grow and produce marijuana. The Planning Board held a continued public hearing with Southwick Greenhouses Inc. on Tuesday night.
Operating in town since 1983 and located on 27 Hudson Dr., Southwick Greenhouses Inc. has consisted of a seven-acre facility used to grow roses. According to owner Paul Dellatorre, the building has not been in operation after he decided to stop growing roses. Dellatorre added that importing roses has become much cheaper than growing them and making it tougher to be successful in the business.
About four years ago, Dellatorre noted that an individual was interesting in using his greenhouse to grow medical marijuana when the substance first became legal in Massachusetts in 2012. Despite taking the proposal to the Planning Board, Dellatorre didn’t receive enough votes to move forward.
John Goddard of R. Levesque Associates shows the Planning Board the site plan while Southwick Greenhouses Inc. Owner Paul Dellatorre (right) looks on. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
With recreational marijuana becoming legal in the state in December of 2016, Dellatorre now sees a great opportunity to re-establish his greenhouse and grow and process marijuana.
“I’m just trying to utilize what I already own,” said Dellatorre.
Dellatorre added that he’s open to having an investor or a professional grower join the project, but for now, he will be conducting the growing and producing of marijuana, along with six to 10 employees.
The existing greenhouse features 21,000 sq. ft., along with two outhouse buildings that are 2,000 sq. ft. and 1,500 sq. ft. The outhouse buildings will be used for processing and packaging the marijuana. There is also a mechanical room that includes irrigation, electrical, heating, and other utilities.
If the special permit is approved, the security systems will be upgraded as Southwick’s town bylaw for marijuana requires that there has to be two separate camera systems on the outside of the property in order to cover the entire property. The Cannabis Control Commission, the state’s legal authority on marijuana, will have access to the surveillance system in order to watch the whole operation inside and outside of the building. The Southwick Police would also have access to the camera system.
In order to ensure the operation is secure, Dellatorre acknowledged that the outhouse buildings where the packaging and processing is taking place will only be accessed by specific employees who are responsible for those duties. Maintenance workers or other employees will be restricted from those areas.
The Planning Board has asked Dellatorre and his consultant, John Goddard of R. Levesque Associates, to make some improvements on the site plan for the special permit. Included in that will be having further discussion with the police department about security and with the fire department regarding installing sprinklers inside the facility.
The public hearing has been continued to October 23 at 7:15 p.m. at the Southwick Town Hall.
