Marijuana processing facility planned for NE Bend

Marijuana is legal in Oregon, and that means it needs business space. But sometimes, not everyone’s happy with where that type of facility ends up locating.

One such facility is being planned at Northeast High Desert Lane in Bend. If it’s approved as proposed, the facility will offer space for single or several tenants to cultivate and process marijuana.

The facility is still a long way from completion, as a formal application has not been submitted to the city.

But on Thursday, the company, called Prime Vertical, is hosting an information session for businesses in the area.

Cascade Indoor Sports, a recreation building for kids and families, is right next door. And some people have expressed concern online with the two buildings being so close.

But city Assistant Planner Nicolas Lennartz said Monday the facility is what the zoning is designed for,

“The fact that we have an industrial zone, and it’s designed for more nuanced-typed uses. Maybe more odor, more light, more traffic,” Lennartz said.”The industrial zone incentives more industrial uses, and our code allows marijuana production, cultivation, processing and extraction outright in that zone.”

According to the city, the marijuana processing facility actually fits the zoning requirements better than the recreation facility next door.

NewsChannel 21 reached out to the woman who had posted her concerns about the marijuana processing facility, as well as the lot owner and Cascade Indoor Sports, but we’ve yet to hear back.