ROYALSTON – It was a heated debate, literally, from the start to the finish of Royalston’s Special Town Meeting Tuesday night. Copies of the warrant were employed as fans by many of the 190 or so people – 182 of them registered voters – who crowded into the cafeteria at Royalston Community School.
Most of the debate centered around Article 5, which called for changing town zoning bylaws to allow for marijuana cultivation/manufacturing operations as large as 100,000 square feet. The existing allowable maximum is 10,000 square feet. The change was proposed via a citizen’s petition effort led by Damon Schmidt, who already has an agreement with the town to construct a 10,000 square foot cultivation operation off South Royalston Road. The facility will do business under the name Royalston Farms.
Many in the crowd had specific questions for Schmidt, despite an admonition from Town Moderator George Northrop.
“We’re trying to avoid talking about a specific project,” said Northrop. “We’re trying to talk about what a hundred-thousand-square-foot greenhouse means in general terms.”
However, voters persisted in asking questions regarding the specifics of Schmidt’s operation. Concerns raised ranged from water usage and traffic, to odor and light pollution. Many also expressed skepticism about Schmidt’s claims that a 100,000 square foot facility would generate upwards of a million dollars in tax revenue annually for the town.
Planning Board Chair Kate Collins read a report from the board which pointed out the existing bylaw governing the size of cultivation operations was enacted less than a year ago.
“We fell we would like to see how it works,” she said. “At this time, the Planning Board does not recommend this article.”
“I just don’t think the town is prepared to change the bylaw to address this situation,” said Zoning Enforcement Officer Geoff Newton. “I agree with the sentiment that was expressed at the public hearing that was held last Thursday that we should leave the bylaw alone. And if (Schmidt) is going to do the business, let’s see if he produces what he feels that he can produce and then make a change at that point to increase his (operation) if he feels he can do it.”
For his part, Schmidt did his best to convince voters that his business will indeed eventually generate substantial revenues for the town. It was pointed out that a Host Community Agreement has already been signed with the Selectboard which guarantees an annual payment of $50,000 to the town, in addition to the payment of a three-percent tax on any profit turned by the operation. Schmidt predicted his 10,000 square foot facility will generate, conservatively speaking, about $100,000 a year for the town.
“I personally believe,” said Schmidt, “we’ll generate between $150,000 and $225,000, so multiply that by ten.”
Schmidt also tried to allay voters’ fears regarding water usage, claiming his business would have little impact on the groundwater supply in the area around the business. He also said traffic generated would be minimal and that light pollution would not become a problem with a larger facility.
His arguments, however, fell on deaf ears. Approval of the zoning change required approval by a two-thirds majority. In the end, the vote against the proposal was overwhelming, with fewer than 20 of those in attendance voting in favor.
A companion article which would have limited the number of cultivation businesses in Royalston to a single operation was tabled without debate.