New Changes In Hinsdale Cannabis Proposal Zoom Meeting Tonight

Tonight is the night for the public hearing in Hinsdale and there are some changes with the Cannabis proposal, like the location of the major outdoor growing operation, and the name of the company.

The Berkshire Eagle reports, Instead of pitching a greenhouse and fields on Peru Road, near Ashmere Lake in the northeast part of town, a Connecticut company now aims to seed its project five miles south in a less-populated area on Bullards Crossing Road, close to the Washington line.

Benjamin Zachs, president of FFD Enterprises MA, based in Hartford said.

“We wanted happy neighbors, That’s honestly what this is about.”

The town’s Planning Board opens an online review at 6:30 p.m. tonight on the Zoom videoconference platform, it is expected to face little or no opposition.

To watch or comment, people must register. To do that, visit the link at hinsdalemass.com/ planning- board.

Richard Scialabba, the board’s chairman, said the company recognized and responded to the opposition, opting for the new location, near where it also has a small cannabis growing operation.

Construction of four greenhouses and a “head house,” along with fencing and field and site preparation is expected to cost several million dollars.

That investment will expand the town’s tax base and produce new property tax revenue. Also, the company will pay 3 percent of the wholesale value of its products to the town.

The company will bring new jobs to the Hinsdale area as it plans to hire 20 year-round workers and will bring in another 60 during the peak months of outdoor growing and harvesting.