I am writing in reference to the story in last week’s Reporter regarding the possible cannabis cultivation facility.
The article goes to great lengths to clarify that the town does not have a say in the opening of the facility in the village. However, the town’s position has never been that we had a say, the letter was to ask for a public hearing to have the public informed of the plan, and what the pros and cons of them coming will be. We asked the village to hold a public hearing because we had people approach us about the project.
It also references “an industrial park in the village,” but the village does not have an industrial park. However, there is room in the town industrial park, that is located right at the edge of the village. Our suggestion has been that is a better location for this facility.
The public at large, should have the opportunity to get the information. It is correct that “grow farms” or cultivation facilities can be located anywhere, in the town or the village. The town has never disputed that, and still does not. Our concern is the location this facility is considering for when there are alternatives.
We fully understand that this facility is legal and can be approved, and it is true, the town opted out of allowing retail cannabis sites in the town. The NYS regulations for the new cannabis facilities had not been written at that time in 2021, and it was a one and done. If you opted in, you were in forever, if you opted out, you could review it at a later time if you chose and opt in then. The village opted in at the outset. The town chose to wait for the regulations to be written that we could review.
The mayor insists the town board is “interfering” by writing letters, where we are actually just asking for transparency for all Waltonians. Thank you for letting me explain the other side of the story that was not written in the article.
Patty Wood
Walton
See “Town doesn’t have a say in Walton village land use, NYCOM says” in the Dec. 4 issue of The Reporter. www.the-reporter.net/stories/town-doesnt-have-a-say-in-walton-village-land-use-nycom-says,129353?
