Medical marijuana growing facility could come to MV

A medical marijuana facility could be opened in the former Pamida building along Highway 39 in west Mt. Vernon in the near future. Max Springer, city administrator for Mt. Vernon, said Ryan Moore, of Sapulpa, Okla., is looking at buying the building for the purpose of a growing facility in the city.
“Moore … is looking at possibly purchasing the property for the purpose of converting the facility into a medical marijuana grow facility if it is zoned properly based on Mt. Vernon’s ordinances that regulate where such facilities can be located,” Springer said.
The Mt. Vernon Board of Aldermen passed an ordinance on July 9 regulating medical marijuana facilities in the city.
 The ordinance states all medical marijuana facilities must be outside of a 300-foot buffer surrounding a school, church or daycare, and medical marijuana cultivation facilities must be zoned light industrial (M-1), heavy industrial (M-2) or agricultural-residential (A-R).
Springer said the former Pamida building is outside of any buffer zones, but the property is currently zoned B-3, commercial; unless it’s rezoned, a facility can’t legally be opened there, adding that real-estate agent Mark Lee has requested a rezone of the property on behalf of its current owner, Richard Kelly, of Bend, Ore., from B-3 to M-2.
“The property backs up to the Northwest Industrial Park, which is M-2, so Mr. Kelly is asking to re-zone the property to M-2,” said Springer.
Springer said the public will get a chance to give input on whether the rezoning should take place at a meeting scheduled by the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission, at city hall at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27.
“Upon completion of the public hearing, the Planning and Zoning Commission will make a recommendation to the mayor and board of aldermen,” Springer said. “The board of aldermen will make a decision based on the recommendation of the commission, the public comments, our comprehensive plan and how the zoning change will impact the city of Mt. Vernon.”
Springer cautioned the rezoning would only be one factor in a grow facility coming to Mt. Vernon.
“Even if the re-zoning is approved there is no guarantee that Mr. Moore will be granted a license to operate a grow facility,” he said. “My understanding is that there are only going to be 60 grow licenses issued for the whole state.”