Approving a special permit for a Tier 11 marijuana establishment which allows up to 100,000 square feet of cultivation to Tetrahydra Agtek could set a poor precedent for future proceedings on up to five such applications in Becket

• Air pollution — foul odors generated by cannabis growing facilities. Mitigation processes/baseline measurements must be in writing prior to a vote.

• Water pollution and impacts on wetlands should be fully assessed by the Becket Conservation Commission before the Planning Board accepts TetraHydra’s assertions. Concern continues to focus on the great amount of development proposed on this property in close proximity to the many wetlands and bordering vegetated wetland areas that define this parcel.

•  Light pollution- Artificial light from greenhouses can affect health, create ecological issues for sensitive animal populations. The consequences of light pollution go beyond just not being able to see the stars. It can have serious ecological consequences, and studies suggest that it has adverse health effects on humans.

• Harm to water supplies. Cannabis consumes substantial water and TetraHydra filed to drill at least one well. Their claim that they will not use much water must be fully examined by independent experts. Monitoring systems are needed to track water use and pollution.

• Siting a 24-foot-tall, 31,000-square-foot commercial industrial pot production facility in a primarily residential area would not be in keeping with the community’s character.

• Building an industrial cannabis facility 50 feet off Quarry Road, across from the Becket Quarry is inappropriate. Under the Trustees of Reservations’ stewardship, the quarry will attract many more tourists including minors to Becket for recreation and organized educational purposes. 

• The Planning Board has not received expert independent environmental analyses of TetraHydra’s proposal. Becket residents have joined together to commission expert environmental assessments. The board should not approve the application until the environmental assessments are completed and thoroughly reviewed.

• The applicant has not provided a financial plan showing they have reliable, sufficient funding. They refer to their financial information as “secret sauce.” Secret sauce works for Big Macs, but not to show they can generate the economic benefits that Becket officials hope for.

• The applicant has repeatedly changed the project’s scope and the design.  There have been 4 site plans each featuring a different size greenhouse. Indoor and outdoor grow areas were in different locations before the outdoor grow was eventually eliminated. All of these changes make it difficult to gauge the potential impact on the community.

The applicant’s proposal should be denied until a complete plan with adequate, written safeguards is submitted and reviewed by experts.

IF YOU OPPOSE THE APPROVAL OF A SPECIAL PERMT TO THE COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA FACILITY OF TETRAHYDRA AGREK,  FOR ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE ABOVE REASONS PLEASE SIGNIFY YOUR OPPOSITION BY SIGNING THIS PETITION WITH YOUR NAME AND BECKET ADDRESS IN THE SPACE PROVIDED BELOW AND PROVIDE ANY COMMENTS YOU HAVE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION.