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september 20 2023 approved meeting minutes

Minutes September 20, 2023 · 2 page(s)

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Centreville Planning Commission
September 20, 2023
7:00 p.m.
MINUTES
The September 20, 2023 Centreville Planning Commission meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by
Kara Willis, Chair; in the Vincit Building located at 110 Vincit Street, Queen Anne’s County Planning &
Zoning meeting room. The following members and staff were present: Kara Willis, Chair; Tim Zuella,
Vice Chair; Mitchell Delaney, Secretary; Pat Fox, Nancy Emerick and Jeff Kiel, Members; Steven K.
Kline, Town Council President; Dan Worth, Council Member; Sharon VanEmburgh, Town Attorney; and
Betty Jean Hall, Administrative Assistant.
Review of Minutes from Previous Meetings
a. Ms. Willis moved to approve the August 16, 2023 meeting minutes as submitted. Mr. Zuella
seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Citizen Comment
A written comment was submitted by Lyn Smith, Symphony Village and read into the record by Ms.
Willis.
Those citizens who offered verbal comments during this citizen comment period were:
Joseph Stevens, Attorney, 114 W Water St. representing Green Thumb Industries; Laura Brown,
Green Thumb Industries Founder; Jeremy Kacuba, Green Thumb Industries Vice President of Operations;
Tom Seymour, Symphony Village; Julie Seymour, Symphony Village; and Dan Worth, Commerce Street
Old Business
a. Ordinance 05-2023 – Chapter 170 – Indoor Agriculture – for review and recommendation
to Council
• Ms. VanEmburgh stated the Town Council has a public hearing tomorrow night
on this ordinance, so they do need the Planning Commission’s recommendation
to proceed with the hearing.
• Ms. Willis requested clarification on whether this ordinance would prohibit the
annual tilling of ground that happens in the larger part of the business park that is
not part of an approved site plan.
• Ms. VanEmburgh stated as long as it continues on a regular basis it would still be
allowed to continue and would be considered a non-conforming use.
• Mr. Zuella stated it seems all the comments received against the ordinance thus
far are regarding the smell. There is nothing in this ordinance that would stop the
smell that exists.
• Ms. Fox stated back in 2021 there was no disclosure by Green Thumb Industries
(GTI) that an odor came with this crop. Without having that information is why
we are at the point we are now. If the ordinance is approved there will be no
more outdoor grow and that is where we get a lot of it in the fall. However, there
is also a point to be made about having the appropriate industrial scrubbers,
charcoal filters, etc. within the buildings to prevent the 3 – 4 times daily exhaust
of the odors from within the building from grow from processing.

• Mr. Kiel stated the ordinance has come before us prior to having discussions with
GTI to address the smell.
• Ms. Willis asked if there is record of how and when GTI was approached by the
Town in an attempt to have a conversation about the smell.
• Mr. Kline stated there is a long form Q&A document on the Town’s website that
was promulgated by GTI and Councilmember Johnson to answer some of these
questions.
• Mr. Kiel suggested giving GTI a timeline to come up with a plan to mitigate the
odor or prepare an ordinance for limiting odor instead of limiting grow.
• Mr. Zuella moved to forward an unfavorable recommendation to Town Council
for Ordinance 05-2023 – Chapter 170 – Indoor Agriculture. Mr. Kiel seconded
the motion, which passed with 5 ayes and 1 no.
Citizen Comment
Those citizens who offered verbal comment during this citizen comment period were:
Tom Seymour, Symphony Village; Mitchell Delaney, Providence Farms; Joseph Stevens,
Attorney representing Green Thumb Industries; Julie Seymour; Symphony Village; Laura Brown, Green
Thumb Industries; Joe Brown, Symphony Village
Council Member Report
Council President Kline stated Town Council will hold hearings on the Comprehensive Plan as
well as Ordinance 05-2023 at the next meeting on September 21, 2023. The consulting Town Planner
position is in the process of being filled.
Adjournment
There being no further business, Mr. Zuella moved to adjourn the September 20, 2023 Planning
Commission meeting. Ms. Willis seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. The meeting
adjourned at 8:08 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Betty Jean Hall
Administrative Assistant
Action Items
• Approved the August 16, 2023 meeting minutes as submitted.
• Moved to forward an unfavorable recommendation to Town Council for Ordinance 05-2023 –
Chapter 170 – Indoor Agriculture.