SE Alberta greenhouse expanding again with second facility

A Hat-based greenhouse that grows saplings has earned approval to convert a vegetable-growing facility in Cypress County to “lower intensity” tree production.

The expansion would boost production by two-thirds at Chinook Greenhouses, which has operated near Bridge Street and Industrial Avenue in Medicine Hat since 1990.

The acquisition of a second location – 250,000 square feet of existing greenhouse of Kel-Lee’s Greenhouse near the Holsom Road – would bump annual capacity from 16 million reforestation saplings to 25 million when renovations are complete next year, said co-owner Carson Pancoast.

“It really opens up a lot for us,” said Pancoast, whose facility in the Flats has recently expanded twice, but is now limited for future growth after the firm sold land for flood berm construction near Strathcona Island Park.

The expansion would involve two facilities on Range Road 63, south of Highway 523, southwest of the city.

The only residence within 180 metres of the facility belongs to Garrett Bowman, a part owner in Chinook with Pancoast.

The matter, involving two permit applications for the separate but adjacent properties, was approved by the Cypress County municipal planning commission Jan. 9.

The general area was once earmarked as a greenhouse expansion district, though potential changes were left out of a planning overview in 2020.

Cypress County did institute a need for all new greenhouse applications and redevelopments in the area to require blackout curtains to reduce light pollution by 80 per cent.

However, the Chinook proposal will not require special equipment.

The commission was told that tree production uses low-intensity LED lights during several hours each day during winter months only. The current setup uses sodium lights spaced six feet apart, which will be changed to LED lights every 48 feet, said Bowman.

“It’s significantly less light and we’re in good shape to meet all the conditions,” he said.

Pancoast told the Medicine Hat News that the 80 per cent condition is accomplished with standard poly siding filtering the specific light system.

The existing greenhouse, near houses in the Flats neighbourhood, does not have blackout curtains.

Other permit conditions include producing a storm-water management plan and other standard transportation conditions before construction commences.

The permit is now subject to a three-week appeal period, typical of discretionary use permits. Construction would begin in March and be completed in 2025, according to the application.