Village effort to market properties for marijuana growers makes headlines

KALKASKA – Local residents, for years, have known Kalkaska’s motto of “Space to grow.” Now, a lot more of Michigan is getting that message, too.

In recent weeks, the Village of Kalkaska has made headlines nearly statewide after the Kalkaska Village Council approved a motion April 8 for the village manager to get sealed bids from real estate brokers to help with sale of various village-owned parcels.

The village ended up hiring the Traverse City-based Team Bertram, which reportedly has experience in marketing properties for potential medical marijuana operations.

“I recommended to the council that we retain a ‘green broker’ for these properties, as they specialize in that market,” said Scott Yost, Kalkaska village manager. “They are connected in that market already.

“And, I told the council the medical marijuana industry appears to be providing the best return on property value at this time,” Yost added. “Basically, it’s just good business sense that, if we’re going to sell property, we should do it via the most efficient path and strive to get the best price for it.”

Village officials have bragged before that Kalkaska has been ahead of the curve, as far as adopting medical marijuana ordinances, including zoning regulations, to provide oversight of potential grow operations and still maintain oversight of such businesses.

The village council passed its first medical marijuana ordinance in 2014, providing oversight for dispensaries that were already in operation at the time. That was after voters statewide approved the use of marijuana for patients with certain medical conditions in 2008.

In providing a monthly update to the council at the April 8 meeting, code enforcement officer Denny Carrado reported that, with the change in weather, building projects related to potential authorized grow operations within the village will begin to occur soon. He also stated one venue recently received its state operating license and other facilities are moving along in the process, as predicted.

Each license comes with a local fee of $5,000 annually, providing the village with a new revenue stream.

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