Pubdate: Thu, 06 Mar 2014
Source: Caledon Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 Caledon Publishing Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.caledoncitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4619
Author: Matthew Strader

LEGAL GROW-OP SPARKS PETITION

Caledon Village residents are speaking up about a federally licensed
marijuana grow-operation they don't want in their residential
neighbourhood.

Heather Street is home to a federal government approved marijuana grow
operation. Neighbours are concerned about traffic, safety, possible
criminal activity, false alarm calls, property values and the
reputation of their quaint community.

"I just want this thing gone," said a coordinator of the petition who
did not want her name used, but presented a petition of 28 names to
Caledon's council on Tuesday.

Ward 1 Area Councillor Doug Beffort said he became aware of the
grow-op, operating out of an old nursery located at 2 Heather Street,
after residents began to complain about the smell, the unkempt
property, the bright lights and the unusual activity for a residential
property. The town is working on their own solution, he said.

Gerald George, who lives right beside the property, said the main
thing he notices is the smell.

"It depends on which way the wind is blowing, but when it comes, it's
a strong skunk smell," he said. George said he's also noticed a couple
of German Shepherds constantly barking on the property, and a lot of
emergency vehicle activity.

"It looks like it's on fire from the road," he said, describing high
pressure, orange, sodium lights he said the operation uses. "The fire
trucks have been here quite a few times."

Lou Rheault said he's been in the village for more than 30 years and
has never seen the amount of emergency vehicles he has since this
operation began. He's also concerned about who may want into the house
to steal the product, and the possibility of those people breaking
into the wrong home.

Ward 1 Regional Councillor Richard Paterak said he heard about the
operation after it opened, but he's s confident it will not be
continuing in that location. As Beffort said, Caledon is working on
zoning requirements for these types of operations.

"Whoever operates [2] Heather Street have asked for and received an
extension to March 31, but they wont receive a further extension,"
Paterak said. "We require zoning provisions to be in place, and we're
drafting new provisions that won't see it allowed in this area."

Federal legislation that governs grow operations has changed. A
spokesperson for Dufferin Caledon MP David Tilson's office confirmed
that the new legislation is passed and will be enforced as of April
1.

Tilson's office was asked for further details, but could not comment
by press time.

The new federal laws are much tighter than previous, and encourage
large scale operations in industrial areas, rather than small home
based businesses.

"There was some talk of agricultural sites," Paterak said. "But I
think the drift has always been from the feds and from our planners
that these should be in an industrial neighbourhood, fully hydroponic,
with no sunlight, so they can have absolute security. It doesn't
belong abutting residential properties."

Beffort agreed.

"We, as a Council, are expecting to finalize our demands with regard
to sites and are leaning toward having any sites that are 'official'
from the feds located in industrial areas where security and fire
suppressant arrangements can be made," Beffort said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt