Barbara Lawlor, Nederland.  The message from homeowners was loud and clear. Big Spring residents do not want a commercial marijuana grow operation in their neighborhood.

Last Wednesday night, at the Nederland Planning Commission meeting, about 40 property owners in the Nederland area attended the hearing on a Special Review Use application for approval to operate a commercial marijuana grow business from the basement of a residence at 78 Barker Road owned by Ashley Wright.

The residence is located at the end of a dead end dirt road near the shore of Barker Reservoir. Opposition showed up to voice their concerns about the impact on their neighborhood as well as the precedent that would be set allowing other commercial pot enterprises to move into residentially-zoned areas.

At the end of the meeting, after listening to public comments and discussing the matter among themselves, the board decided to deny recommending the application to the Nederland Board of Trustees, citing incompatibility with surrounding land use.

This does not mean the application is dead. The BOT now has a chance to listen to residents and make their own conclusions. The matter will be addressed at the December 1 board meeting. Nederland Town Administrator Alisha Reis recused herself from both the planning and trustees meeting because she is the nearest neighbor to the residence in question.

Planning commission chairman Roger Cornell began the meeting saying that this is the first time the issue has come up. Town clerk Cynthia Bakke said that there were no issues with Nederland Public Works. She said the Nederland Fire Protection District had concerns about driveway access, but any issues would go through the land use process.

Before public comment was heard Wright made her presentation. She said she knows this is a new topic for Nederland, for the board and for the residents and she has reviewed the feedback and wants to reassure residents that the operations would be run with respect for the neighbors.

She said some people expressed concern that a commercial grow would lower property values. Because she would also live in the residence, she says she would make sure there were no signs, no odors, no noise and unless it was brought to their attention, the business would not be made public to property buyers.

Wright rents the house she lives in and says she want to buy it so would take every precaution to treat for mold, monitor humidity and take a proactive role in the maintenance. Safety is important to her, especially because she has a four-month old child. “The operation is separate from the house and we want it to remain that way.” She says she has security lights around the exterior.

When discussing the traffic issue, she said she will personally deal with deliveries and that the product would be tracked from the beginning to the end of the, that there was no danger of kids obtaining the marijuana.

“There is a benefit to community home occupations which allow economic growth without increasing the footprint. Also we would not want this operation to be obvious. It is our home. It is an extra way to make income so I can buy the house.”

Because the Barker shoreline is often used by hikers and fishermen, who often trespass on her property, Wright says the outside lights would keep away burglars, that the safety of her family is the most important concern.

In reply to the question of the operation putting a strain on utilities, she says, “It is in my best interest to control the cost and ensure that the electrical work is efficient.. We don’t use any more poet or water than a business in the commercial zone.”

She says she understands the concern of her neighbors and knew it would evoke an emotional response. “I appreciate the feedback and hope we can set a positive precedent for home occupation businesses.”

When it came time for public comment everyone except one person said they weren’t against marijuana, they were against having a grow operation in a residential area. A Big Springs neighbor said that there was a housing shortage in Nederland and the space shouldn’t be allotted to growing pot. She also asked, “What kind of an image are we showing to potential home builders? People will not want to build a house here,?” she also asked, “Why are we the only municipal entity in Colorado to allow a grow in a residential area. And who is going to monitor the business? Children should not be exposed to this.”

Where is the waste water filled with fertilizers and pesticides going?

“I don’t mind people having a brew or smoking a joint, but keep it in a commercially zoned business.”

Many residents questioned how a town without enough law enforcement resources was going to deal with adding even more problems.

Wright already grows medical marijuana and some people wandered why she was going through this process and she said she wanted to further legitimize her business.

That’s fine, said one neighbor, but what happens if a precedent is set and the next grower does not have your sense of professionalism? Consider the domino effect.

Don’t let growers take over our residential properties, said one speaker. “That is not the way to go to attract vital, youthful families to the area.”

Look at the big picture. Consider the future of out town was the message.

Most of the comments reiterated the opposition to approving the SRU. One man said that Black Hawk and Central City were consumed by gambling, and Nederland could be consumed by grow houses, losing its community.

At the end of evening’s comments and discussion, Wright thanked those who showed up and spoke and many of the speakers thanked her for her professionalism and respect.

It is not that they were against her or her business, they just didn’t want a grow operation in a residential neighborhood.