An undeveloped piece of land in an industrial area is well on its way to becoming Ypsilanti Township’s first marijuana dispensary and growing facility. “We’re trying to grow cannabis in Ypsi, sell it to people in Ypsi, and eventually allow them to be able to consume there as well,” said Frost Cannabis Owner Mike Ludtke, who is working to develop 1250 Watson Street, near the Willow Run Airport and West Willow neighborhood.
“The idea is more of a craft brewery experience — smaller scale, a little more special,” he said. Frost is positioned to be the township’s marijuana pioneer, thanks to a change officials made when they adopted an overhauled zoning ordinance in 2022, allowing some kinds of marijuana facilities in the industrial and commercial area between I-94 and U.S. 12 on the township’s eastern boundary.
Rather than trying to compete with Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, already flush with dispensaries, officials hoped to lure entrepreneurs looking to revitalize the area with larger facilities for cannabis cultivation, lab testing, or transportation, township Planning Director Jason Iacoangeli said during the April 25 meeting of the township Planning Commission.
With Frost, they’re getting a bit of both worlds. Ludtke aims to construct a 10,4000-square-foot building that would house both a small-scale growing operation and a marijuana retail outlet, vertically integrating his business.
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