Daily Sitka Sentinel

Another Pot Garden Approved for Sitka

By SHANNON HAUGLAND

Sentinel Staff Writer

The Sitka Planning Commission on Tuesday approved the sixth conditional use permit for marijuana cultivation in Sitka.

The vote was 4-0 to grant the permit for 120 C Jarvis Street, on the condition applicant Darren Phillips of Fiberflite fulfill several conditions.

Among the requirements: he must provide a more detailed plan for odor control and a backup plan in the event of a power outage; a more detailed parking plan for the whole six-unit building; a review by the Sitka Police Department of the security plan; and an amended disposal plan for fertilizer, chemicals and wastewater.

Planning Director Mike Scarcelli said the location of the project is in an Industrial zone, but a permit is still required for marijuana cultivation. The nearest residence is 77 feet from the cultivation operation, but no “sensitive uses” (schools, jails, churches and youth centers) are within the state’s mandatory 500-foot buffer zone.

Scarcelli showed slides of Unit C, in which a structure for the grow operation has been built inside the warehouse at the Jarvis Street address.

He also reviewed the ways in which the permit is consistent with Comprehensive Plan objectives, such as economic growth, an increased job base, the production of high-quality goods, and commercial development. He said he believes possible negative impacts have been addressed under the permit.

Scarcelli also noted the potential for increased revenue for the electric fund. With an estimated power draw of 54,000 watts, and electric rates at 12 cents per kilowatt hour in the winter and 19 cents in the summer, this business – and others like it – may produce $74,000 a year in power sales by the city utility, Scarcelli said.

“Things are looking a lot better in terms of usage,” he told the commission. “That is going to help the electric department meet the loan/debt (obligations).”

Electric Utility Director Bryan Bertacchi confirmed to the Sentinel that the heavy use of lights and fans in growing marijuana will significantly increase power sales. He said increases in revenue related to existing grow operations have already been observed.

“We’re seeing an increase in load, which is going to help keep costs down for everybody,” Bertacchi said. “They’ve been great customers, and it will help reduce rates for everybody in Sitka.”

Other current or planned grow operations are Vern’s Wicked Weed on HPR, Green Leaf Inc. on HPR and at the Gary Paxton Industrial Park, AKO Farms on Beardslee Way and Northern Lights Indoor Gardens at SMC Plaza.

The commission approved the findings and the conditional use permit by unanimous votes.

In the discussion of the new cultivation permit, the Planning Commission briefly talked about whether allowing residential uses on commercial or industrial zoned land has the potential to stifle commercial enterprises in those zones.

“We have to start being more careful about that,” said Darrell Windsor, who presided as chairman in Chris Spivey’s absence. Also present were Randy Hughey, Richard Parmelee and Taylor Colvin.

A proposal to change the zoning of historic cemeteries was pulled from the agenda. A suggestion to rezone the Russian Orthodox and Lutheran cemeteries off Princess Way, Observatory Way and Marine Street, from Residential to Public was raised by a Sitka Tribe of Alaska council member at a recent government-to-government meeting with the Assembly, tribal staff and city staff.