HATFIELD — A proposed marijuana growing operation off Depot Road that would have supplied medical and recreational dispensaries in Massachusetts and elsewhere will not move forward.
With significant concern from residents of Depot and Cronin Hill roads about many aspects of the project, Urban Grown Inc. recently withdrew its Planning Board application for site plan approval and a special permit, without prejudice, to use the 6.8-acre property at 55 Depot Road to grow cannabis.
Michael Herbert, chief operating officer, said he wouldn’t comment on the decision to withdraw, which came following two contentious public hearings that brought out more than 75 residents. But he noted that the company is already using the site for growing high-CBD hemp.
“The future is wide open,” Herbert said, adding that the company continues to have a provisional license from the Cannabis Control Commission. That license was for property in Whately, but had been expected to transfer to Hatfield.
Planning Board Chairman Robert Wagner said the withdrawal, which was unanimously approved by the board this month, means that there is no pending application to grow recreational and medical cannabis at 55 Depot Road.
Industrial hemp, Wagner said, is an approved regulated agricultural product through the state’s Department of Agriculture and does not require any approvals from the Planning Board.
At an Oct. 1 Planning Board meeting, Urban Grown Chief Executive Officer Stephen Herbert expressed frustration that a report issued by the Berkshire Design Group of Northampton on behalf of the Planning Board outlined a series of questions that needed to be resolved before site plan approval and a special permit could be granted.
“Because of many of the additional requirements necessitate significant time, input and expense, after consulting with a professional engineer, Urban Grown Inc. does not plan to move forward at this time with our cultivation,” Herbert said.
Wagner said the Berkshire Design report provided a template for Urban Grown to follow to make sure it was in full compliance with Hatfield bylaws.
Urban Grown had previously signed a host community agreement with the Select Board in which it would have provided the town 3% of gross sales each year for the first five years. That agreement was nullified if no final license was sought.
Urban Grown had initially planned to grow 10,000 square feet of marijuana crops for wholesale in four greenhouses, expanding to 50,000 square feet of growing, using greenhouses and hoop houses both during the normal growing season, as well as in the winter.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.