In just one year Humboldt County approved its medical marijuana land use ordinance, encouraged growers to register their farms and get in compliance, and received more than 2,300 cannabis permit applications.

But none of that includes Humboldt’s incorporated cities, which have been left to make their own decisions. The city of Rio Dell’s plans for medical cannabis have stayed pretty much under the radar, but it has a huge economic opportunity in the works.

After the city council had some hiccups with approving its own medical marijuana land use ordinance last year, it finally came to terms with allowing cannabis activities. But only at one specific site — the former Eel River Sawmills property, an industrial area that runs adjacent to Highway 101 just north of the residential part of the city that has been mostly abandoned since 2005.

“It hasn’t seen much activity,” said Rio Dell City Manager Kyle Knopp. “But over the past year, since we’ve been talking about medical marijuana, we’ve seen all of the properties move into the hands of developers who want to do certain projects over there.”

That’s right — once the site was approved for cannabis activity, a dozen developers quickly gobbled up the land, eager to capitalize on the industry. There are 16 parcels spanning 225 acres with a vision for the area to resemble a business park. Cultivation, manufacturing, testing, etc, will be permitted (though dispensaries will not).

But beyond economic development, a brownfield site on the property will be cleaned up and new facilities will be built, improving aesthetics and instilling vitality.

“Then it will be more of a jewel of Humboldt than the eyesore that it is currently,” said Rio Dell City Councilmember Debra Garnes.

In this LoCO video report we find out more about the up-and-coming cannabis business park, water for the site, permitting and potential tax revenue that could be a game-changer for the small community of Rio Dell.