Council grants High Stryker Farm 60‑day temporary cultivation license, requires engineer‑certified odor plan

The South Berwick Town Council voted to grant a 60‑day temporary license to High Stryker Farm LLC (104 Pond Road) for medical cannabis cultivation, conditioned on the operator submitting an odor‑control plan approved and certified by a licensed mechanical engineer.

Councilors and staff described a history of odor complaints about the property and said they wanted a certified plan in hand so code enforcement has an enforceable standard. Jenny McCabe, the town’s code enforcement officer, said the town has received multiple odor complaints over the past three years and has contacted the operator each time. She recommended that any license be tied to an approved odor mitigation plan so complaints have a basis for enforcement.

Owner Ryan Reed told the council he has operated at 104 Pond Road since February 2018, received a state cultivation license in 2018, and has used a mix of carbon filters, bipolar ionization, negative air pressure and odor-eliminating products. Reed said the odor “is not continuous, unlike farms that raise animals such as cattle or pigs,” and that emissions occur mainly during flowering cycles — about four times a year for roughly three weeks each.

Councilors said they wanted to support a longstanding local business while also ensuring neighbors are protected from repeated nuisances. One councilor expressed concern that a 60‑day window might not coincide with a flowering cycle and therefore might not reveal whether the mitigation plan worked; staff said the requirement is for a certified plan and that code enforcement would have authority to act when odor occurs.

The council adopted a motion to grant a temporary license for 60 days, requiring submission of an approved odor-control plan certified by a licensed mechanical engineer; the motion passed by voice vote, 5-0.

Why it matters: The conditional approval allows a local cultivator to continue operating while requiring technical documentation intended to resolve ongoing nuisance complaints. The case highlights how municipalities enforce odor standards for cultivation facilities and the interplay of state licensing and local land‑use controls.

What’s next: The operator must file the engineer‑certified odor‑control plan within 60 days or risk suspension or revocation of the temporary license. Staff said the operator may request extensions if there is demonstrable progress toward compliance.