Pubdate: Sat, 26 Jul 2014
Source: Sun Times, The (Owen Sound, CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 Owen Sound Sun Times
Contact: http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/letters
Website: http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1544
Author: Scott Dunn
Page: A3

COUNCIL TO CONSIDER MEDICAL MARIJUANA POLICIES, PROPOSAL

The issue of medical marijuana grow-ops will be passed around the 
Meaford council table Monday night when new planning policies for 
them and a specific proposal will be considered.

Council is expected to accept a staff recommendation to delay a 
decision about medical marijuana proponent Rob Gardner's proposal, 
giving him time to address concerns of neighbours.

"The municipality is trying to put into place a way in which we can 
have that as a business; we have no problem with having that as a 
business in our community," Meaford Mayor Francis Richardson said in 
an interview.

Gardner's application was submitted before council's direction to 
staff to make recommendations about medical marijuana production 
facility policies.

But his application wouldn't meet some of the proposed terms, so he 
would need an exception to the proposed zoning bylaw amendment 
permitting Health Canada-licenced grow-ops in the municipality.

Gardner's neighbours are worried at least partly about possible harm 
to their property values, a Meaford planning report says.

The pot would be grown indoors, in a low cinder block building of 
about 20,000 square feet along Highway 26, west of Meaford.

A second building, about half that size on an adjacent lot, may also be used.

A public meeting was held July 14 to review details of Gardner's plan 
and the proposed planning policies.

Gardner told the meeting the old apple storage building will 
"maintain the low-profile appearance it has had since the farm store 
was shut down in 2009."

There would be be no retail sales and traffic in and out of the 
building will be less than when it was producing apple juice.

Meaford put a moratorium on any medical marijuana grow operations in 
April, until planning policies to help guide council decisions were 
established.

Staff have concluded that with recommended zoning and site plan 
approval process, medical marijuana grow-ops would fit in the community.

Draft recommendations call for maximum building heights, lot coverage 
limits and setbacks from adjacent properties and sensitive areas.

Also governing the facilities are strict Health Canada licencing 
requirements, which cover security, odour and pollen filtration and 
other considerations.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom