MARIJUANA GROW OPERATION PROPOSED FOR WEST VALLEY

ANACONDA - A medical marijuana caregiving and grow operation is
proposed west of Anaconda in the West Valley Development District.

Property owner Johnathon Lescantz has filed for a major development
permit to run the operation at 194 Maguire Road. The county planning
board will hold a public hearing on the request at 7 p.m. Monday, May
9, in the courthouse courtroom.

Ordinance No. 220, which went into effect last December, allows for
caregiving in rural development districts, such as the West Valley or
Opportunity, subject to the major development permit process.

Caregivers are not allowed to grow in the central business and highway
commercial development districts, nor any residential development
districts unless they provide to no more than two patients living in
the same house.

The ordinance specifically prohibits dispensaries and storefronts, but
allows caregiving as a home occupation.

Lescantz proposes general hours of operation from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Monday through Saturday, with two or three employees, according to his
application.

All product would be delivered to patients. The property would be
gated and locked at all times with 24-hour video surveillance.

State law permits caregivers to grow six plants per patient. The
application does not specify how many patients Lescantz has, and he
did not return a message left Friday.

Planning consultant Bob Horne said that will certainly be a question
for Lescantz, and a staff report will be done prior to the public hearing.

Copies of the application are available for review at the planning
department in the courthouse, or by calling 563-4010.