Pubdate: Fri, 04 Apr 2014
Source: Coast Reporter (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Coast Reporter
Contact:  http://www.coastreporter.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/580
Author: John Gleeson

SCRD APPROVES MEDPOT FACILITY

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) board has approved the
rezoning of a Port Mellon property for a large-scale medical marijuana
production facility.

The March 27 board decision allows Richnor Recycling Ltd. to set up a
12,000-square-foot (1,080-square-metre) commercial grow-op in an
existing industrial building on Horsethief Road, south of Hillside
Industrial Park.

West Howe Sound director Lee Turnbull said the 1.9-hectare property is
appropriate for the use.

"I haven't heard one negative comment about it," she said. "The
community is looking forward to the jobs."

Calling the Horsethief Road location "interesting," Sechelt alternate
director Doug Hockley said it was "high time that something like this
moves forward."

The SCRD board also voted last week to proceed with a medical
marijuana zoning bylaw that restricts production facilities to minimum
eight-hectare (20-acre) parcels in RU2 and RU3 zones.

But the decision was not unanimous, with both Roberts Creek director
Donna Shugar and Elphinstone director Lorne Lewis opposing it in
committee and board votes.

Shugar suggested the board should at least modify the bylaw after a
March 11 public hearing in which "100 per cent of participants" shot
it down, including small-scale growers.

"I think it was hastily drawn up and it's over the top," Shugar said
at the previous week's planning and development committee meeting.
"Twenty acres is way too large. We could have been more moderate."

Shugar called the bylaw a panic reaction. "I supported it initially,
but what I heard at the public hearing was very compelling," she said.
"In the development of this bylaw amendment, we did not consult any
growers."

Staff recommended passing the bylaw in order to have some rules in
place by April 1 when the new Health Canada program took effect. Staff
is also developing a separate bylaw for smaller operations on
agricultural land, and site-specific zoning remains an option.

"If we don't have controls it would be unlimited in the Agricultural
Land Reserve (ALR)," senior planner David Rafael said. "They would
only have to meet setbacks for agricultural buildings. There would be
no controls over building or lot size."

Turnbull defended the bylaw. "In the absence of clarity," she said, "I
have heard a great deal of concern in Area F, because we do have a lot
of ALR land."

Committee chair Frank Mauro said he saw no downsides for existing
growers or new growers, and noted directors had just recommended
approval of the Richnor Recycling rezoning.

"We have not closed the door on anyone," Mauro said. "This is a
necessary precautionary bylaw to protect residents of the Sunshine
Coast."

Rafael said the bylaw for small-scale grow-ops will not likely be
adopted before September.  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D