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Planning commission recommends approval for Wild Hog agricultural cannabis cultivation with security and fencing conditions
Summary
The commission recommended approval of an interim use permit allowing Wild Hog (Chase Johnson) to transition an existing hemp operation to licensed cannabis cultivation in Sheldon Township, subject to state OCM final approval and local conditions including an 8-foot perimeter fence and county inspection access.
The Houston County Planning Commission on Aug. 14 reviewed an interim use permit application from Chase Johnson (Wild Hog) to transition an existing state-licensed hemp operation to regulated cannabis cultivation on his family farm in Sheldon Township. Johnson told commissioners his family has operated a state-licensed hemp cultivation business for seven years and that the proposed change would continue agricultural production on the site under state requirements. "For the past 7 years, we have been operating as a state licensed hemp cultivator in full compliance with state and federal regulations," Johnson said.
Johnson described on-site operations — a rural parcel reached by a private, three-quarter-mile driveway, a drying/processing shed on the property and current reporting of fields to the USDA under the state's hemp program. He said the operation uses secure storage and intends to meet state security and surveillance requirements for cannabis cultivation, including a fenced perimeter around the grow area, coded access gates and continuous video. "All of the access points into the shed will have the security measures, the video, everything that's required by the state," Johnson said.
Commissioners and staff discussed odor, water use and waste management. Staff noted the operation would rely primarily on natural precipitation for irrigation in outdoor cultivation and said green waste would be mulched or rendered unusable as required by state rules; an operating permit for holding tanks would be required if used. The applicant agreed to an additional local condition: a minimum 8-foot commercial-grade chain-link fence around the grow area (beyond the 6-foot fence the state requires in some cases). The commission also included standard conditions requiring compliance with federal, state and local law and allowing the county to enter the premises at reasonable times to verify compliance.
The commission voted to recommend approval of the interim use permit, subject to the stated conditions and final approval by the Office of Cannabis Management. The recommendation and record will be forwarded to the County Board for final action on Sept. 25.
