Nation's Largest Indoor Marijuana Grow Proposed In Chico

CHICO, Calif. -- A southern California business is hoping to capitalize on the medical marijuana movement by opening a 600,000-square-foot indoor medical marijuana grow in Chico. Plant Properties Management, LLC is asking to use the Koret building near the Chico airport, which has been vacant since 2007, to house what would be the nation's largest indoor grow.

Plant Properties Management says the project would take up to nine months to renovate the building, and could provide as many as 230 jobs. The company’s idea is to lease space inside the building so collectives can cultivate their medicine under one roof.

Paul DeFlores spoke for the company at a Chico City Council meeting earlier this month, and said the project would also bring in much needed revenue to the area. DeFlores said projected business revenues would be, “approximately $200 million, and local tax revenue would be approximately $3.6 million.

”Despite the possible financial benefits, Chico Associate Planner and Zoning Administrator Greg Redeker isn't sold. Redeker says the city has yet to agree on an ordinance for collectives, so adding this proposal is out of the question right now. “We are moving forward with our medical marijuana ordinance which would allow, in certain zones, store front dispensary-type operations…but this sort of large scale cultivation is not being recommended at this time.

"In order for the facility to be utilized for growing medical marijuana, Redeker says the city council would have to reconfigure the zones in which medical marijuana is allowed to be obtained. As of now the Koret building is in an airport manufacturing district, and the current proposed medical marijuana ordinance would only allow collectives to operate in light, or general manufacturing districts.

Oakland currently has the largest operating indoor medical marijuana grow at 100,000-square-feet. The one in Chico would be six times that, groundbreaking to some, but not for Redeker. “Oakland is kind of leading the charge, if you will, for medical marijuana…so we’re gonna go ahead and let them take that role.

”The Chico City Council meets September 16th to discuss the new medical marijuana ordinance for collectives.

krcrtv.com/By Nick Emmons