SAFFORD — The fate of the NatureSweet greenhouses could be decided in the next few weeks.
Bayacan, the group that has proposed purchasing one of the greenhouse sites from NatureSweet in Bonita, has resubmitted its application for rezoning that would allow for the growing of medical-grade cannabis.
“June 16 would be the Planning and Commission hearing,” said Heather Dukes, attorney for Bayacan.
Once the Planning and Zoning Commission makes its recommendation, the Board of Supervisors will take final action on the application June 21.
“And then we will need to process the variance in the later part of July. And then, hopefully, move into opening and operations throughout the summer and fall,” Dukes said.
Graham County Supervisor John Howard said the board needs the input of its residents in order to make an informed decision.
“I would just like to reach out to my constituents — and the whole county — to communicate with us. Communicate with your supervisor; let us know,” Howard said. “We’re not magicians; we can’t get into your minds and know what you think. We make decisions based on what’s best for our county and our constituents. And we can’t make good decisions unless you communicate with us.”
Bayacan is seeking a change from general land use (A zoning) to unlimited manufacturing land use (M-X zoning) in order to purchase and refurbish one of the NatureSweet greenhouses sites (known as Site 6) into an indoor medical cannabis grow facility.
The greenhouses encompass 53 acres; however, officials at Bayacan told Gila Valley Central that about 48 acres were be used to farm and the other five would be used for equipment and administration.
Bayacan officials said the company is seeking to hire 150 people for the first phase of development, at a starting salary of about $35,000 per year plus benefits. At build-out, the company expects to employ about 600.
Bayacan previously submitted a rezoning application, but withdrew the application in December following a negative recommendation by the Graham County Planning and Zoning Commission, and an unwillingness by the Board of Supervisors to postpone its hearing.
At the Planning and Zoning Commission hearing, five members of public — all from the Bonita area — spoke in opposition to the proposed zoning change and four in favor.
In April, NatureSweet officials told workers that, without the sale of Site 6, the Bonita operation would be forced to close in July, laying off hundreds of workers. However, the operation would remain open with the sale, which would diversify crops and mitigate disease that’s impacting the tomatoes grown at the greenhouses.
NatureSweet officials also said they would use some of the funds from the sale to develop a research and development operation at one of the greenhouse sites.
