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Planning Commission approves special-use permit for marijuana packaging at 1314 E. Apple Ave.
Summary
The Muskegon City Planning Commission approved a special‑use permit allowing Driven Gardens to use 1314 East Apple Avenue as a marijuana packaging/processing facility, with a condition prohibiting extrusion methods classified as hazardous under the Michigan Building Code.
The Muskegon City Planning Commission approved a special‑use permit on Jan. 16 allowing a marijuana processing and packaging operation at 1314 East Apple Avenue, a property in the B‑2 business zone and inside the city’s marijuana facilities overlay district.
Planning staff recommended approval, and the applicant described the proposal as a primarily business‑to‑business packaging and processing location that would let medical growers convert product for the adult‑use market. The permit passed in a roll‑call vote with eight yes votes and one no vote.
Planning staff member Mike told the commission the property previously had approvals for retail, a provisioning center and a recreational grow and that the industry’s changes left the owner and applicant seeking a different use. Building owner Steve Ory said he had struggled to attract reliable lessees and that leasing the building to Driven Gardens would bring security and cameras to the site. “I care about my investment,” Ory said, and described the building as largely unused in recent years.
Applicant Tom Schneider, identified as an owner of Driven Gardens, described the application as primarily a packaging operation that would let medical growers convert product for sale in the adult‑use market. Schneider said his company currently ships product to third‑party processors to convert medical product for the adult‑use market, increasing transport costs and time. “By getting adult‑use processing and medical processing at the Apple Avenue, we’d be able to ship all of our product to one location,” Schneider said, adding that the change would reduce transport costs and logistical steps.
Commissioners discussed the special‑use permit standards required by section 2332.4 of the zoning ordinance and posed questions about compatibility with adjacent uses, nuisance factors and utilities. Staff said notices were mailed to property owners within 300 feet and recommended approval. The motion to approve included one explicit condition: extrusion methods classified as hazardous under the Michigan Building Code are prohibited at the site.
After the vote, staff told the applicant to complete the city’s permit application process. Planning staff noted the applicant must file for the standard approvals and comply with building and fire codes before operations begin.
