By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

Canuvo is growing its marijuana business in Bridgton.

The company, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2021, presented plans to the Planning Board Tuesday night to expand its cultivation business at 152 Portland Road to include adult-use, as well as open a store front, which the general public can purchase marijuana and other products, such as edibles.

Josh Quint explained that the plan “does not build anything new or tears anything down,” but simply uses existing space. However, strict restrictions exist that keep the two grows — medical and adult-use — entirely separate. 

A map of the facility interior shows four distinct sections — labeled A, B, C and D. The building was constructed in phases, the first occurring in 1963 while the last took place in 1992. Two sections will serve as growing spaces, while another is used to process. A chain-link fence spans from floor to ceiling, creating distinct growing areas. Plants are specifically labeled either medical or adult-use, and information is entered into a computer software program for tracking purposes.

Quint explained Canuvo is not increasing the size of the grow at this time, but growing to address two markets — medical and adult-use. Once one room is harvested, the space is thoroughly cleaned. The next planting — be it medical or adult-use — will be based on consumer need.

“We’re nervous people when it comes to pests that attack the plants,” said Quint in regards to the deep cleanings done before the next grow is started.

State guidelines call for Canuvo to sell product in a “wholesale transaction” to their storefront. The store will occupy the space that formerly was used as a showroom. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Tuesday, closed on Wednesday.

The request was to approve an adult-use cultivation license and an adult-use retail store.

Planners raised questions about water usage, exterior improvements and signage. 

The facility uses 2,000 gallons of water per day, which Quint said the Bridgton Water District deems “not an undue burden.” If the operation expands in the future, BWD has requested to be part of the conversation.

As for improvements, vinyl has been added to the retail store area, and plans call for it to be likely extended to the big white concrete wall to the right of the building. Until then, the building will be power-washed to address peeling paint, Canuvo CEO Sage Peterson said. She added that landscaping improvements are in the works, as well as installation of a new sign.

Planners gave tentative approval to the proposal by a 4-0 vote. Conditions include: scan of the adult-use licensing from the state; ambient lighting for the company sign; the buffer distance between the building and a nearby residence; letter of financial capacity; grass seed to the plot of land adjacent to Route 302; and a landscaping plan.

Founded and licensed in 2010, Canuvo started in Glenn and Sage Peterson’s backyard and is the only Maine dispensary to be family-owened and operated for its entire history.

“Only 30% of companies in the U.S. make it to 10 years, but the fact that we are a cannabis company makes this milestone even sweeter,” says Sage Peterson, CEO at Canuvo. “As a family, we are committed to creating a strong company culture to support our employees and clients despite the challenges of growing a start-up in an un-regulated industry.” 

This news comes in the wake of years of navigating Maine’s state regulated program while also being considered ‘illegal’ federally. As an established business they are able to grow marijuana with no pesticides, lab test every batch of every product they sell, and commit to delivering informative and supportive customer care. Canuvo — one of eight licensed dispensaries in Maine — has proudly served the medical marijuana community of southern Maine for the past decade and is excited to do so into the future. 

Solar Farm gains tentative approval

Planners 4-0 gave tentative approval to the North High Street solar farm project pending Finding of Facts and Conclusions of Law.

Project presenter David Albrecht addressed various points raised at the public hearing, including a question from Lakes Environmental Protection Executive Director Colin Holme regarding a phosphorus study. One was done, and Albrecht reported that “There’s no loading issue.”

Planner Dee Miller asked who will build, operate and maintain the solar farm? Albrecht, who works for Borrego, said the company has three different groups — development (design and permits), engineering/construction and maintenance/operation. 

“The hope is we will be contracted to operate and maintain it,” he said. “80% of the time, we operate and maintain it. It is sold as a development asset first. Any changes made will have to come back to the town.”

Clarification was sought regarding the roadway that leads to the solar array. From Route 302, the distance is about 3 ½ miles. A new road from an existing “skid road” to the array is about 3,000 feet. Interim Fire Chief Todd Perreault asked if the existing road will be brought up to standard, and Albrecht said yes. The landowner could use the roadway for other reasons, to which, if the road degrades, the landowner would be responsible for improvements. If the road needs repair over time as the result of the array, the company would make improvements.

Developers proposed a 14-foot travel lane (national fire code calls for 20 feet), which has proven adequate to bring panels and other equipment to the site via box trucks. In most cases, equipment is shipped to the site by tractor trailer, which the items are off-loaded and transferred to smaller trucks.

Perreault asked that the travel lane be 14 feet, and a buffer be extended to each side. The plan includes a turnaround for emergency vehicles, which extends inside the gated area. Albrecht pointed out that the standard is 28-foot turnaround radius, but they went with a more “generous” 38-foot radius. Under the new plan, the access road is outside of the fencing. Albrecht noted that utility poles are off the roadway.

Initially, the gate to the array was 20 feet (double-leaf gate), but Perreault sought a little more clearance and asked for 24-feet instead, which developers agreed to. A sign will be attached to the gate that includes contact information.

Planner Ken Gibbs noted there were many concerns raised by abutters regarding noise from the inverters, despite forest that serves as a buffer between the project and neighboring homes (some over 1,000 feet away). While a study placed decibel levels at 27 to 29 — that of “rustling leaves” — planners asked the developer to include 8-foot vinyl fencing at the inverter locations as a way to mitigate noise.

“For what I’ve seen and what I know, this will not be above ambient noise, but you don’t know until you know,” Planning Board chairwoman Deb Brusini said. “A vinyl fence adds a level of noise abatement; if you (the developers) can live with it, it’s the safest way to go.”

Approval conditions also include the sharing of a Central Maine Power impact study information with the town (the study shows what needs to be installed for the local distribution system to function reliably and safely); the town’s attorney will draft language regarding a bond for decommissioning the solar farm; and inclusion of the DEP’s stormwater plan response.

Subdivision change

Planners approved a subdivision revision regarding two undeveloped lots on Isaac Stevens Road. George Sawyer presented the request on behalf of Leslie Hill to change the lot layouts to provide better access and meet newer setback requirements (from 30 to 75 feet) regarding a stream that runs through both sites.

The original four-lot subdivision was approved in 1988.

Planners voted 4-0 to approve the lot layout change.