Plans are underway to develop a 130-acre medical marijuana industrial park in Windsor Township, which its investors claim will be the largest of its kind east of the Mississippi River. This project, named Harvest Park, is anticipated to generate up to 1,000 jobs in various marijuana-related sectors, according to Jeff Donahue, managing director of Harvest Park Development LLC. “I think the location is perfect,” said Donahue, a Lansing native. “It’s an area ripe for development.”
Details of the Development
Harvest Park is set to occupy two parcels of land at the intersection of Creyts and Lansing roads, located east of General Motors’ Delta Township Assembly plant. The park will include businesses involved in the growing, processing, testing, and secure transportation of marijuana. Donahue and his team of private investors are optimistic that infrastructure for 63 acres of the park, including essential utilities such as water and sewage, will be constructed within the next 60 days. Once this initial phase is completed, plans will move forward for the remaining 67 acres, with an expected opening in the spring.
Business Opportunities and Local Impact
The initial 63-acre section of Harvest Park is divided into 10 lots available for sale, aiming to attract marijuana cultivators, processors, secure transporters, testing labs, and suppliers. All businesses will require approval from both the township and the state to operate. Currently, two of the lots are under contract. Donahue anticipates the development will also spawn “ancillary businesses,” such as those specializing in packaging, machine operation, and data analytics, further contributing to job creation.
To accommodate the heavy power demands of the marijuana industry, the developers have reportedly partnered with a local utility company to potentially locate a substation within the park. However, a spokesperson from the Lansing Board of Water & Light clarified that they are not involved in the project, while Consumers Energy refrained from confirming or denying any involvement due to customer privacy issues.
Windsor Township’s Stance on Cannabis
Windsor Township has shown readiness to embrace the marijuana industry. Earlier this year, the township board approved a 12-page marijuana ordinance requiring establishments in the sector to obtain special land use permits and state-approved licenses. The ordinance permits various types of marijuana businesses but prohibits provisioning centers, also known as dispensaries. Township Supervisor Marcus Braman noted, “We like to keep things pretty simple. If you meet requirements, then move forward. If you don’t, you don’t.”
State legislation allows municipalities to determine the presence of marijuana establishments within their jurisdictions and which types to permit. To operate in Michigan, businesses must secure approval from both the state and the local municipality. Licensing applications from Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs are expected to be available by December 15.
According to an ArcView Market Research/New Frontier Data study, legal sales in the U.S. marijuana market are projected to surpass $22 billion by 2020. In Michigan, experts estimate that medical marijuana revenues could exceed $700 million annually if full legalization occurs.
The city of Lansing is currently facing challenges in implementing its recently passed medical marijuana ordinance due to petitions for a referendum aimed at blocking it. Signatures for this referendum are still under review.