Dubious distinction or not, future medical marijuana magnates will have to go before council if they want to set up shop.
On Wednesday night, city council blazed through a unanimous vote to move to the public hearing stage a draft zoning bylaw restricting where new federally licensed production facilities can go.
The potential legislation would create a new zoning category - narcotics - in the city's greenbelt, agriculture and forestry and light, general and business industrial zones. Specifically, the zoning would be looked at for properties in the Agricultural Land Reserve larger than 15 hectares and in the BCR, Danson and Boundary Road industrial parks.
A key component of the bylaw would be for any applications to come before council and a public hearing.
Having the applications approved in a public setting means there won't be any surprises for neighbours, said Coun. Cameron Stolz.
Coun. Dave Wilbur said he was happy to see the stipulations in the bylaw that would require a one-kilometre setback from any residential or correctional services property lines for facilities in land zoned as greenbelt or agriculture and forestry. Internal setbacks would be set at 30 metres for the agricultural zones and three metres for operations on industrial lands.
"It seems to be clear that it will be apparent to anyone that is considering this kind of application for a medical marijuana grow operation what the go and stop signs are all about," Wilbur said.
The city doesn't actually have a say in what businesses crop up under Health Canada's new Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulation, but the zoning gives a municipality some control over where in the city they end up. Another element of the proposed bylaw change will be that no business licence or building permits are issued until the city gets confirmation that a specific grow operation has been federally licensed.
Health Canada's rules also regulate security measures and the methods by which any cannabis can be destroyed. City business licences and building permits will also require that a qualified professional provides a ventilation plan to keep any offensive odours from leaving the building.
With first and second reading passed, the draft legislation will be sent to the Agricultural Land Commission for review before coming back to council for a public hearing where residents can comment on the new rules.
