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Neighbor says he can't sell home because of next door marijuana operation

Posted at 6:03 PM, Jun 30, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-30 18:03:40-04

LEE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WSYM) - Location is huge in real estate, just ask anyone who's tried to sell a house near a sewage treatment plant.

One homeowner says an outdoor pot-growing operation next door is making it tough to sell his house.

Dave Taylor has lived in Calhoun County's Lee Township for just over a decade now and he has no complaints.

That is until two years ago when his neighbor built an outdoor medical marijuana growing operation right in plain sight.

“I really don't have an opinion on it whether it is legal or illegal,” said Taylor. “I don't do it and if someone else does I don't care, that's not my problem.”

What's become Taylor’s problem as retirement nears, the ability to sell.

“I had it appraised last fall at one value and I brought the realtors back out here now and they’re saying maybe I just want to wait for a little while and see what happens,” said Taylor. “There comes a point in time where you really don't want to wait.”

Realtors, Taylor says, won't touch the property either and the operation next door sticks out to potential buyers.

“They see the picture of the house online and say ‘that is a nice place,’ then they’ll pull in the driveway and see that next door and say ‘never mind.’” said Taylor.

The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office says the outdoor operation is legal.

Among the quickly changing laws, the sheriff’s office says outdoor operations must be completely fenced in and have an appropriate cover over top.

A grower can serve as a caregiver to only three other patients, not including themselves.

Taylor is frustrated with the lack of a solution that'll help him sell his house.

“To date, I haven't found anybody that actually looked at the problem,” said Taylor. “Nobody that has said that might be causing an issue with the guy's property value, I've never found anybody that is doing that.”

There will be a whole new set of rules and regulations if recreational marijuana becomes legal.

Michigan voters will make that decision on November seventh.

Click here for more information explain the rules.