EXETER, R.I. (WPRI) — Despite initial pushback from residents, Schartner Farms has been given the go ahead to resume building a massive glass-covered greenhouse off of Ten Rod Road.

The town's Planning Board unanimously approved Tim Schartner's plans for the 25-acre greenhouse, which will exclusively grow beefsteak tomatoes, late last month.

Schartner said the town reviewed his greenhouse proposal at the request of residents who expressed concern over safety and environmental impacts.

"The town basically peeled back the onion on what this really is," Schartner explained, add that he is thrilled to finally have the town's blessing to move forward.

Schartner is the chairman of Rhode Island Grows, which will be in charge of the $80 million greenhouse once it is up and running.

Rhode Island Grows began constructing the greenhouse nearly there years ago but was forced to hit pause as the town reviewed Schartner's proposal.

Inside the greenhouse, Schartner said every day will be July 27.

Schartner explained that this date was chosen because it's considered the best day for farming in New England. He also said that, since the greenhouse will be climate-controlled, it will allow for year-round tomato production.

"It's a big glass-covered field capturing summer," he said. "That's why these tomato plants are lasting all year long."

Schartner estimated that the state only grows 1.6% of the produce that residents consume.

"It's a big problem," he said. "So this greenhouse will more than double the state's produce production."

Schartner estimates that the greenhouse will produce up to 26 million pounds worth to tomatoes annually.

"It's a lot different than if we filled this same field, or same acreage, with tomatoes," he said, adding that the greenhouse would produce roughly 30 times more than an open field.

The greenhouse is also environmentally conscious, according to Schartner. He said the solar-powered greenhouse creates a negative carbon footprint by using hydroponics technology and irrigating crops with captured rainwater.

"We can hold about half a million gallons of water at a time," he said. "That water then goes to the plants and we keep reusing that water ... We only use about 5% of the water that we would traditionally in this same acreage."

Schartner said he's teamed up with and will initially be growing tomatoes for Sunset, which has been seeking out locally-sourced produce.

Though his greenhouse is the first of its kind in the Ocean State, Schartner said he expects more to pop up over time. His goal is to make it so Rhode Island can determine its own nutrition by growing more of its own produce.

"My hope is to help farmers [transition] to this instead of having super farms owned by billionaires on the outskirts of New England force feed us," he said. "I think it's best we determine it ourselves."

Schartner said it will take roughly a year for the remainder of the greenhouse to be built. He also needs to tweak the greenhouse's internal design to address safety concerns and thoroughly train those who will be working in the facility.

"There's a lot of due diligence and some protocols that will need to be developed for this space," he explained.

Schartner hopes to begin harvesting tomatoes and filling orders by the end of next summer.