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County commissioner voices opposition to cannabis operation at former wood‑treating Superfund site in Hollywood
Summary
An unidentified county commissioner told colleagues and residents they will oppose a proposed cannabis production facility at the old Hollywood wood‑treating plant, citing the site's Superfund cleanup history, local environmental concerns and the applicant’s out‑of‑county ties.
An unidentified county commissioner said they will oppose a proposed cannabis production operation at the former Hollywood wood‑treating plant, describing the property’s industrial contamination history and the public concern raised at a recent forum. “The new cannabis operation that wants to open at the old Hollywood wood treating plant in Hollywood,” the speaker said, and added, “I do not support it.”
The commissioner recounted visiting the property as a child and described seeing telephone poles soaked in creosote and soil that was later treated as a Superfund site. “That soil was a Superfund site that had to be burned and, incinerated on‑site with an incinerator,” the speaker said, arguing the prior contamination left the parcel “almost unusable” and questioning whether it can be made safe for nearby residents.
The speaker also objected to what they described as outside operators proposing local production, saying those running the planned facility do not live in St. Mary’s County. The speaker said they will attend the Board of Appeals to oppose the proposal: “I told people I'll show up at the Board of Appeals to go against it.”
The speaker raised related land‑use anxieties during the same public forum about an unrelated aviation facility at Piney Point, noting community interest and expressing encouragement that underground tanks at that site will be removed.
No formal motion or vote on the cannabis application was recorded in these remarks. The speaker’s comments summarize local opposition and indicate an intent to challenge the proposal at the county’s appeals process; any formal decision will come from the Board of Appeals or subsequent permitting authorities.
