One week ahead of a decision on whether to renew a license for a marijuana grow operation, the Pitkin County commissioners visited High Valley Farms. The business has elicited complaints from neighbors over a “skunky” smell. As Aspen Public Radio’s Marci Krivonen reports, the elected officials looked over new technology that’s meant to mitigate the odor.
Four of the five elected leaders arrived at the 25,000 square foot greenhouse early Wednesday. It’s near downtown Basalt, across Highway 82 from the Holland Hills neighborhood.
"We’re doing a site visit of High Valley Farms today," said commissioner Patti Clapper. "We'll see the operation and see how the greenhouses are set up and get some information about the existing vent system and what’s being proposed."
The elected board requested the visit after hearing from neighbors who say the smell is impacting their quality of life and property values.
Once inside, the commissioners show their IDs and pull on surgical booties. The facility consists of four greenhouses. It supplies marijuana to a retail store in Aspen.
Greenhouse officials point out two failed attempts to mitigate smell — a wet mist system and a dry vapor system. Both have been abandoned. Now, growers will space out harvests and send the air in each greenhouse through a set of carbon filters.
The system makes a humming noise. It's air escaping through the filters, outdoors. The vented air doesn’t smell like marijuana. Jordan Lewis is CEO of High Valley Farms.
"The concept is very basic. It’s a fan that pushes air through carbon filters. The scale and the application is what is so novel."
So far, one of four venting systems is complete. The others are under construction. Lewis says they will be up and running by the end of the month.
He says the new system and the loss of marijuana production during its installation cost the business more than one million dollars.
"I certainly hope that the commissioners will recognize our efforts and realize that our early missteps were — there was no one to guide us. Now we know that this system is in, that it works and that the technology is proven, so we’re thrilled about that."
Commissioner George Newman was on the tour.
"It’s probably a little premature to determine whether they will be as effective as they’re touted to be," he says.
He says the growhouse is moving in the right direction, but it’s difficult to determine total effectiveness this early in the process.
"It’s brand new and only one of the greenhouses is in operation with the new technology. Today it’s a little too early to determine if it will actually be effective when all greenhouses are in full production."
The commissioners are scheduled to decide Wednesday whether to renew High Valley Farms’ license.