Regional District of Fraser-Fort George directors said they want more control and transparency when it comes to where medical marijuana facilities can set up shop.
After a lengthy discussion Thursday afternoon, board members voted to amend a proposed bylaw limiting new federally licenced grow operations to even larger parcels of land.
Where the initial bylaw stipulated a minimum of 16 hectares (40 acres) on land zoned as M5 Agriculture Industry, the legislation will go back for another public hearing with a new limit of 640 acres.
But what the amendment is really doing is buying the board of directors time to come up with something they like better.
"It's hard to find 640 acres near anybody," said chair Art Kaehn, adding the outlandish size restriction would serve as a stop gap. "In the meantime we would initiate another bylaw."
During a public hearing on Wednesday, directors heard from residents who said the 16 hectare limit was excluding those who wanted to operate a small business.
According to general development manager Terry McEachen, the regional district has been notified to interested parties inquiring about sites five acres and nine acres large.
Support for the original bylaw was all over the map, with some saying outright they wouldn't support it because they wanted more control over where the facilities would go and others who said to let the bud fall where it may.
"We have to start looking at medical marijuana differently," said Area A director Warren Wilson, who indicated the 40-acre size was too restrictive. "We can't be looking at it as this evil thing."
But if the board decided to do nothing, then the facilities could pop up in rural or even urban residential areas, said Dave Wilbur. "At the end of the day, if we don't do some kid of restriction, we're going to regret it."
Prince George mayor Shari Green expressed interest in the road taken by the city of Chilliwack, which restricts their location to a special industrial zone.
Area H director Ken Starchuck and McBride mayor Mike Frazier said they liked the idea that neighbours could have a say through by mandating a public hearing process through the zoning.
Regional district staff will return to a later board meeting with a report looking more closely at how other municipalities have tackled the issue.
