The Sweet Home Planning Commission on Monday, April 3, will consider a request for a conditional use to allow an indoor marijuana growing facility.
The biotechnology company 2GC Holdings anticipates adding various research and development capabilities in the future.
The proposed business will use two existing industrial buildings on 7.78 acres at 1491 47th Ave.
“In the plant kingdom, the cannabis plant holds great promise for medicine and other fields of science, however its natural potential has not been realized due to prohibitions existing in the past few decades,” said CEO Alexander Krichevsky in the permit application.
“With newly opened opportunities to work on this fascinating plant the mission of 2GC Holdings is to bring modern biotechnology capabilities to this developing industry and to promote development of new applications for cannabis secondary medicinal metabolites, improve plant strains for production of beneficial compounds and many other technologies currently unavailable to this industry.”
Biotechnology is a clean, low-footprint and efficient high-tech industry, he said, allowing robust economic development that is compatible with a clean and safe environment while preserving the original atmosphere of the area.
A variety of job functions are required in a biotechnology company, providing opportunities to people from different backgrounds, Krichevsky said. It will help diversify the economy and improve the the fiscal health of the community.
Krichevsky proposes to use the existing buildings, with cosmetic repairs and paint along with updates required by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, including a security system and a secure entrance.
This is the second application related to marijuana that the Planning Commission will consider.
Last month, the commission approved a conditional use permit for Going Green to change from a medical marijuana dispensary to a recreational marijuana outlet.
In 2014, Oregon voters passed Measure 91, allowing the sale of marijuana.
The state legislature later passed a law allowing cities where the measure did not win to vote on whether to allow marijuana facilities.
In November, Sweet Home voters approved the sale of recreational marijuana and a local 3-percent tax on the sale of marijuana.
In January, the council finalized land use rules for marijuana facilities.
The commission also will consider a conditional use permit for Sunshine Industries to construct a shop building in conjunction with the Program Services Center to provide a storage and work area.
The commission meets at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber inside the City Hall Annex, behind City Hall, 1140 12th Ave.
For more information, call the planning office at (541) 367-8113.