Hewitt family hope to win pot farm state permit

BY ANN GENADER
WEST MILFORD — A new business to grow a controversial plant may boost the state and local economies, help taxpayers and assist people with medical issues.
For some time officials have called for a major business enterprise to revitalize the Hewitt area, a section. Area residents have already seen A&P store close and shuttered a bank, among the many businesses that have fail.
The Granatell family, long time residents at the 210 acre Evergreen Farm at 1735 Union Valley Road, has applied to the state of New Jersey to be designated as one of six places to be licensed to produce medical marijuana.
Governor Phil Murphy and his administration called for six more medical marijuana facilities after the the most recent facility opened in Secaucus this year.
The New Jersey Health Department is expected to select six additional centers by November. The six are to be spread over the state with two provided in each the north, central and southern regions of the state.
Seeking local support for their new business, David Granatell represented his family attended the Aug. 15 meeting of the Township of West Milford Council.
Local farm submits applicationThe Granatells have submitted their applications to the state.
If they are successful in receiving state approvals, they will construct a 50,000 square foot building on the area of the property where there was a miniature golf course and putting range.
Granatell got the necessary support from the council through a resolution they adopted at their latest meeting.
The document states that the local officials support Evergreen Cultivation LLC’s application to operate an alternative treatment center medical cultivation site and a medical marijuana distribution site in the Township of West Milford, pursuant to New Jersey’s Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act and in accord with applicable local ordinances.
The councilmembers, with exception of Andie Pegel, voted to approve the resolution.
The document says the township finds that it is important to provide and protect the health and welfare of the citizens of the township and the state, consistent with the purpose behind New Jersey’s Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act.
Granatell said the growing of the marijuana plants would be in a 30,000 square foot indoor greenhouse with an irrigation system and above ground septic facility. It is expected the business would provide from 25 to 50 jobs, Granatell said.
The farm is currently under farmland assessment but the business building(s) on it would be fully taxed by the township.
Security issuesHigh security surveillance would be in place by a private company at all times.
Granatell said his great uncle owned the A and W Root Beer Stand, a popular location at the corner of Marshall Hill Road and Greenwood Lake Turnpike years ago and the family has lived on the Greenwood Lake area for generations.
The Granatells bought the closed Lakeland State Bank Hewitt office last year.
With the bank vault still in place, the building could become a marijuana depository, Granatell said.
Getting on board in what Democratic Governor Phil Murphy said could be one of New Jersey’s biggest economic opportunities in years, could be an economic plus for tax burdened, financially strapped West Milford, too.
Murphy initially penciled in $60 million in state tax revenue through proposed marijuana revenue to bolster his $37.4 billion 2019 budget, but did not get legislative support to include it.
He still believes legislation for recreational marihuana use will go in place early next year. There has already been legalization in nine states and the District of Columbia.
New Jersey could be the next to approve legalization and the Granatells and West Milford will be ready with the state to reap benefits starting in 2019.