Stanislaus County leaders could approve large cannabis facility promising 200 jobs.
Stanislaus County staff are recommending permit approval for a large cannabis growing and processing facility in south Modesto that could create around 200 jobs.
The county Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on the use permit and development agreement Tuesday.
Modesto-based Lyfted Farms, a subsidiary of a publicly traded Canadian firm, will manage the cultivation, manufacturing and distribution operations in the three-story, 180,000-square-foot building on Daly Avenue, south of Yosemite Boulevard.
The county Planning Commission supported the use permit and development agreement in December, but the owners needed to clear a federal background check before proceeding to the Board of Supervisors. A report in agenda materials released Friday says a Department of Justice clearance has been completed.
The first floor of the Daly Avenue industrial building will have almost 32,000 square feet for growing mature marijuana and nursery plants. More than 8,900 square feet will be dedicated for manufacturing, and 43,800 square feet for distribution operations.
The second floor is half the size, but also has space for cultivation and manufacturing of cannabis products such as prerolls, flavorful buds and fruit snacks. The facility will provide manufacturing services for SolDaze, Lyfted and other brands and distribute the products to markets in California.
The parent company, Transcanna Holdings Inc. of Vancouver, was served with a lawsuit in December by Pacific Agriculture LLC of New York State, claiming the Canadian company backed out of a deal to acquire Pacific for $20 million. Transcanna’s stock was selling for 90 cents per share as of Friday.
The county’s cannabis permitting program has also considered an air quality evaluation that suggested significant measures will be needed to protect workers inside the facility. The study was done for a previous application to the county.
County staff reviewed the study and concluded the building permit process will ensure safe ventilation is provided for employees.
Supervisors could approve a five-year development agreement with Transcanna, which would generate $2.7 million in fees for county coffers.
A previous owner who applied to the county for a commercial cannabis permit made about $1 million in improvements to the building but did not meet the county’s stringent requirements. Since the property was sold, the building has been used for drying industrial hemp.
Steve Giblin, chief executive officer for Transcanna, has said from 200 to 300 people could be employed between Lyfted Farms’ permitted cannabis facility on Jerusalem Court in north Modesto and the Daly Avenue site.
The county Board of Supervisors will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the basement chambers of Tenth Street Place, at 1010 10th St., Modesto.
This story was originally published March 1, 2020 at 12:19 PM.
