A decision on whether to grant a conditional use permit (CUP) for a cannabis indoor grow facility was "reluctantly" made by the Mower County Board of Commissioners Tuesday morning during their meeting.
By a slim 3-2 vote, commissioners approved a CUP for the indoor grow facility operated by Lucas and Kathleen Rollie out of a former church in Dexter Township. The passage of the CUP was approved with reservations as several nearby property owners voiced disapproval of the grow facility that included concerns over increased traffic, a possible rise in crime and a detrimental impact on property values. There were also concerns over the fact that the building used to be a church.
"The building they are wanting to have it in is in a church basement," Rachel Blaser told the board during a public comment section of the CUP's hearing. "They still have crosses on the side of the church."
The board's decision comes after a 2-2 split vote by the Mower County Planning Commission, with one absent. Jerry Reintartz, Dan Sparks and John Mueller voted in favor of the CUP, while Mike Ankeny and Board Chair Polly Glynn voted against it.
Read more at Austin Daily Herald
