The Mancos Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended a new recreational marijuana growing facility for approval.
The 5,000-square-foot grow facility could move into part of the former Metallics West building, 651 N. Main St., if the town trustees approve the project.
Sherry and Gilbert Garcia, owners of The Medicine Man in Cortez, plan to buy the building and open New Millennium Wholesale, which will employ eight to 15 people. They hope to rent out the rest of the facility to other businesses.
The odor that the growing business might produce concerned one neighbor, Donna Schmittel, because she has a severe marijuana allergy.
“I am definitely not in favor of having this pot farm a few feet from my home,” she said.
The building is zoned light industrial, and marijuana cultivation is allowed by town code. The size of the growing facility requires a special-use permit, and the town can impose some conditions to reduce the impacts on neighbors, said commission Chairwoman Cindy Simpson.
The Garcias told the board their facility will use charcoal filters to eliminate odor.
The board also asked them to prepare a landscaping plan and to place their air conditioning units away from highly visible areas to help reduce noise.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
