The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George is proposing relegating new medical marijuana grow ops to large rural properties. But according to area residents who gave feedback at Wednesday's public hearing, the new bylaw would be a total buzz kill to small-business owners.
Under the federal government's new Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulation effective April 1, production facilities licensed by Health Canada will be moved out of residences and into dedicated sites.
In a bid to have some control over the location of these new facilities, the regional district - like other local governments across Canada - is looking to set limits through land use legislation.
RDFFG staff put together a proposed bylaw to limit these grow operations to rural parcels of 16 hectares or larger on land zoned as M5 Agriculture Industry. The facilities would be required to be set back 60 metres at the rear or side and 30 metres from the front of the lot.
But the size requirements are over the top, said some.
One presenter, identified as Tara, pointed out that other agricultural uses permitted in the M5 zone require a minimum site area of two hectares for a meat/produce processing and sales use or a farm supplies centre and six hectares for a slaughterhouse or commercial greenhouse.
"Basically you guys are really going to restrict small based businesses that perhaps might do a little bit of small growth within our rural communities," Tara said. "You're limiting anybody - you're excluding them would be the word I would have to use - from coming to the table because you're proposing they have 40 acres of land."
Regional district general development manager Terry McEachen said the 16-hectare plot was selected as a means of ensuring the sites wouldn't be located in rural residential areas, as well as to provide consideration for odour, traffic and security issues surrounding a high-value crop.
But Graham Ames said the only traffic would come from employees and Canada Post or bonded courier vehicles - the only way the weed is allowed to be moved - and that smells in the indoor facilities are easily remedied by proper filtration systems.
The larger property parcels would push the businesses further away from civilization and ultimately first responders.
Two people spoke in favour of the spirit of the bylaw, having unsavoury personal experiences with weed cultivation in close proximity and being adversely affected by the smell.
The RDFFG board of directors will vote today on whether to approve the new bylaw.
