Bevo to officially apply reclassification of Aurora Sun

By Medicine Hat News on June 29, 2024.

A major greenhouse in Medicine Hat will officially apply to change its use to reflect that it grows vegetables, not cannabis, this week.

The municipal planning commission will meet Wednesday to hear an application from Bevo Farms related to its facility at 3101 Box Springs Way, better known at the Aurora Sun greenhouse.

That company took over the greenhouse built by Aurora Cannabis late last year when Aurora purchased a majority share in Bevo in exchange for the facility.

Bevo argued this fall that since it had begun growing vegetable seedlings for wholesale distribution in April, the tax classification should be updated to the farm classification which carries a much lower tax requirement.

City finance officials say the assessment was done under rules that determine current classification as the commercial use at the end of the previous year.

Council rejected the request, and the company has said it plans to formally appeal the assessment.

The land is zoned as “direct control”, meaning that all development decisions for the property require council approval.

If approved by the MPC, the matter could be discussed at council’s July 15 meeting.

Private sector permits up

Housing projects pushed building permit figures up in May, according to figures released late this month.

The planning department also states in a monthly report that recent commercial new-build and renovations, as well as duplexes, moved activity to $8.1 million in the month

That’s up from $4.2 million in May 2023.

At the five-month mark, total permits let numbered 254, up from 210 in May 2023, and were worth an estimated $32.4 million.

That is about $12 million less than at the same period last year, which included $20 million in new institutional spending.

The largest jump in 2024 figures are multi-unit projects that would create 84 units in four projects. That work is valued at $12 million.

A total of 10 new detached home permits is up slightly from six last year.

— compiled by Collin Gallant

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