Planning and Zoning Commission members are evaluating new uses meant to breathe life into the former Stevenson Lumber property at 1585 Monroe Turnpike and 421 Old Zoar Road — land was most recently used by Truss Tech, a manufacturing facility for pre-engineered roof and floor wood trusses.
John Kimball and his wife, Jill, are proposing text amendments and zone change for a new Stevenson Business District 2, which would expand permitted uses on the site by allowing a commercial parking and indoor cultivation facilities.
Kimball said the indoor (non-farm) cultivation use is not meant to be an entry into the marijuana business. He said commercial brokers are looking for places to grow herbs and he has received interest in fish farming and vertical farming, which uses 95-percent less water and allows for year-round growing.
“We can potentially make a vertical farm to table concept if we could attract a restaurant to the site,” he said of the possibilities.