Proposed pot farm draws concern in Kennewick

A group of neighbors who live uphill from the future Desert Hills Middle School in Kennewick are rallying to try to stop a recreational marijuana farm from opening next door.

The proposed farm – LLV Green – is near where the Kennewick School District is building the middle school. But it’s far enough away that the new school won’t stop state officials from issuing a license.

The license isn’t issued yet, but LLV Green has an application pending with the state Liquor Control Board. Marijuana businesses are banned in Kennewick, but the property is in Benton County, which allows legal pot farms.

Construction on the farm at 28505 S. Clodfelter Road has stopped for now, after a Benton County code enforcement officer visited the property. The county sent a warning letter to the property owner because of building code violations, stating corrective action is needed, officials said.

The violations are still under investigation.

A company called Peyote Canyon bought the 4.4-acre property in January for $200,000, according to county records.

Neighbors said they found out about the proposed farm after one of them talked to a worker. Until then, they weren’t sure what the property owner had planned.

Linda Bauer, who lives next door, said they noticed workers remodeling the barn on the property and adding a tall fence topped with barbed wire.

Some of the neighbors attended a commissioners meeting this week. They also are looking into options to prevent the farm from opening.