Health board approves cannabis farm septic variance
Southwick's Board of Health approved a septic variance for a cannabis cultivation facility on Granville Road and opened debate over the town's first home-burial policy.
Board of Health · Meeting of October 20, 2026
Southwick's Board of Health approved a septic variance for a cannabis cultivation facility on Granville Road and opened debate over the town's first home-burial policy. The board voted 3-0 to let Pioneer Valley Trading Company install a 1,500-gallon on-site septic system rather than extend sewer line more than 1,140 feet across farm fields, with Chair Terry Putnam, Trish Labiniak and Erica Prouty voting yes. Owner Mike Albert said the nearest neighbor sits "over 700 feet away," and abutter Mark Kenzel raised no objection.
Health Director Kayleen Simons said no formal home-burial application has been filed yet and that written criteria likely will not be ready until the board's December 1 meeting. Members also agreed to draft a letter asking the Planning Board to include the Board of Health in zoning talks on data centers and battery storage systems.
In the full story:
- The deliberation: Prouty raised the Hilltown comparison question directly
- Prouty asked for clarification on scope
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,512 words
Source: the Board of Health meeting of October 20, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.
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