BABBITT- Residents here packed the city council chambers last Thursday morning for a two-hour planning commission public hearing on a proposal to create an organic cannabis cultivation and manufacturing facility. The facility is proposed for three lots on Commerce Road, in the empty space between the Cenex station and Babbitt Road.
The Green Mining Company, the start-up wanting to build the facility, is locally owned and received its license from the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management on April 23. Green Mining needs a conditional use permit to site the facility in the light industrial zone on Commerce Road. The planning commission held the public hearing as part of the permitting process. Now that the hearing has been held, the commission has 45 days to make a recommendation to the Babbitt City Council.
Anyone who has been following the “What’s Up Babbitt” Facebook group already knows that the project has generated plenty of controversy in Babbitt. The comments at the hearing echoed many of the remarks and controversy on social media regarding the facility.
Green Mining wants to build four greenhouses for growing marijuana and a manufacturing building to process the plants. The products grown in Babbitt will then be sold in the firm’s dispensary in Ely. Green Mining bought the old Ely Bowling Alley for the site of their future retail outlet.
The business is keen to break ground this summer to stake out its place in the market before the tribal cannabis businesses can move into the area. Rich Stewart, one of the three partners who own Green Mining, told the Timberjay that the tribal cannabis businesses in Minnesota are allowed by state law to expand outside of the reservations and are aggressive about capturing all the market share they can.
“We will be competing against the sovereign nations if we don’t get this up and running sooner than later,” Stewart said.
Testimony
Despite a 9 a.m. start for the hearing, 17 Babbitt-area residents and business owners testified, with some in favor, others opposed, while still others objected to the location.
Fran Ortel was representative of those opposed. Ortel worked for the police department and EMS in Silver Bay for over three decades. “You don’t want more trouble in this town and this will bring it here. You have such a beautiful town here … You don’t want to be known as a druggy town,” she said, noting that in her experience, marijuana is a gateway drug that can ruin lives.
JoAnn Briggs predicted that having the Green Mining Company in town would increase the drug usage by Babbitt’s youth: “We’re going to need detox and counseling centers and drug rehabilitation centers for those kids,” she added.
Those in favor saw the economic opportunity that Green Mining would bring to Babbitt. Karen Applequist, who used medical marijuana, told the commission, “We need these jobs. Why do we drive businesses out of town?” Nick Allen echoed Applequist in his brief and succinct testimony: “I’m for it. It will bring jobs and revenue.”
Rob Palkovich had a slightly different perspective. “I’m worried about our town image, but people come here on their snowmobiles and side-by-sides to drink. So, what’s the difference? If it was a craft brewery, would we really be having this much of a conversation when it comes to alcohol versus weed … I say, why not give this a chance? It’s not as if it will make the town any worse.”
Local business owner Jim Zupancich was opposed to the proposed location for Green Mining’s facility. “Please don’t do this to our town. We have 105 square miles of land (in Babbitt). So, why put this downtown? Can’t we find a better place? It’s close to churches, a playground, and three blocks from the school … do we really want to be known as the pot capital of the Iron Range?”
Eight of the testifiers argued that the proposed location was inappropriate. The facility would be visible from the shopping district, from the school buses on Babbitt Road going to Northeast Range School, and from Hwy. 70.
“I dislike that our school kids would have exposure to this business twice a day. Inside city limits is not the right location,” commented Babbitt resident Richard Pierce. His comments were echoed by Shawn Cersine. “It’s a gateway drug and that’s an issue. Our children need to be protected … So, a different spot would be better for this business.”
“It’s legalized so the cannabis businesses will be here one way or another,” commented Tony Chamberlin. “(Green Mining) is not a retail business. There is no availability to an end user in this community. What it does bring is an influx of cash … and it provides jobs and revenue to the city. But I’m not sure about the location. The city should study the location.”
Tabled
The planning commission tabled a vote on the conditional use permit until June 5. “We have buffer zone questions for the city lawyer,” commissioner Dave Sherman pointed out. The newly enacted laws regulating cannabis do not allow the sale or use of cannabis products near schools, parks, day cares, recovery centers, and public lands.
The commissioners also determined that tabling a vote would give Green Mining and its realtor time to scout other prospective properties in Babbitt that would be less conspicuous than the heart of the shopping district.