A proposal to rezone the former Henryetta hospital and clinic properties to allow a marijuana grow and dispensary operation was declined by the planning and zoning board Thursday night.
Matt Richardson said his company, Matric, Ltd., wanted to have the clinic building rezoned from C-3 General Commercial to C-2 Highway Commercial and Commercial Recreation District. The former hospital building at 123 S. 5th is currently zoned General Commercial and Richardson was asking it be changed to I-1 Light Industrial.
He told the board the flow operation would be started first then, “ultimately down the line a dispensary,” would be started. He said there is no intent to open a dispensary immediately.
Rex Walcher, preacher at the Church of Christ located to the southeast of the site, said he had a concern over the smell coming from a grow operation as well as vehicle traffic and eventually the clientele that would be using the dispensary.
Board member Jill Francis said the current zoning for the core area of downtown Henryetta from the railroad tracks to Sixth Street prohibits a grow operation.
Richardson said the grow operation would not involve a major increase of traffic saying there would three or four cars on a daily basis.
“The reason we took this property is we believe in Henryetta and trying to bring some income into Henryetta,” he said. “This will be a boon to the town of Henryetta.”
The smell is claimed would be minimized by the installation of charcoal filters in every aspect of the operation, both to hold down the smell and prevent cross pollination between plants.
One of the audience members said the operation has a, “negative connotation,” and was unsuitable to the neighbors in the area.
Board member David Bullard pointed out this is not the first time such a proposal has come before the board. He said the smell is the biggest concern. “I can smell it a block away,” he said.
The use of specialized hydrogen peroxide filtration systems would handle that smell but Matric specialists said it is expensive.
Richardson said the operation would start with three people and could go to a maximum of five or six.
Walter told the board if the zoning were to be changed, “you’re setting a precedent. I don’t think we need to sell our soul for a dollar.” He asked Richardson to put it in writing that churchgoers would not smell the operation. He warned if the project was approved, “other avenues would be pursued.”
Natalie Kirby said children attend the tumbling gym near the proposed operation and “Is not something I want for kids to be around. It is not the place for it.”
Board member Keith Green said no one is opposed to such an operation. “I think the opposition comes from its location.” He said no one wants to see a similar operation pop up anywhere in town.
The board did allow Shane Sanford to have a piece of property at 1201 West Moore to be rezoned from R-1 Family Residential to R-3 Manufactured Homes Residential. That would allow Sanford to place a trailer house on the property. The site did have a dilapidated mobile home on it but that building has been demolished.