Proposed cannabis production controls go to public meeting

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Proposed amendments to Clearview Township’s zoning bylaw are intended to get to the heart of what is agricultural and what is industrial.
A public meeting is scheduled for August 23 to hear the public’s thoughts on cannabis production in the municipality following the passing of an interim control bylaw in October to prohibit the establishment of new cannabis operations for a year while staff took a closer look at the use.
Clearview staff is using the time to become educated about how other municipalities are controlling cannabis production and are asking the public for their input.
Interim bylaw was approved after rumours caused residents to fear a cannabis production facility was planned for their neighbourhood.
“We have tried to find the line between allowing producers to produce and also protect the rights of neighbours,” said Mara Burton, director of community services.
If approved, cannabis cultivation and production facilities would be subject to site plan control, which would help control the size of the facilities, what can and cannot be done in a hoop house, and regulate lighting, odour, buffering, sightlines and the storage of waste, for example.
The bylaw also proposes to change the zoning on Clearview’s two big producers – Peace Naturals at 4491 Concession 12 Sunnidale and Agri-Farm at 6954 County Road 9 to a AGI-7 Zone and a AGI-8 Zone respectively.
“If anybody today then wanted to establish a new cannabis production facility that was similar to those they would actually have to apply for a zoning amendment to the ag related industrial zone, or potentially go into our industrial park,” Burton told council when the issue was discussed on June 14.
She is also proposing specific controls such as lot coverage provisions and setbacks to reduce conflicts with neighbours or other land uses.
Deputy Mayor Barry Burton advised council to proceed with caution because of the licensing oversight coming from the federal level. He said he is aware of other municipalities that are caught up in hearings because they have tried to impose regulations.
He said he would like to a see a county-wide approach to regulating cannabis production.
“A lot of these people are trying to claim it’s an agricultural crop and they should be able to grow it anywhere but if it’s an agricultural crop, why do you need a licence to grow it? Because you don’t need a licence to grow any other agricultural crop,” said Barry Burton.
“I can imagine there are definitely challenges with controlling the outdoor growing but we do however have control over issuing building permits and there may still be merit in looking at these larger facilities and controlling them through site specific zoning to an ag related industry,” said Mara Burton.
Councillor Connie Leishman said she would support much bigger setbacks, and would support only allowing small operations in Clearview.
“I have lived through the public meetings that we had with our residents around Peace Naturals. It was not fun, I can tell you that,” said Leishman. “Their biggest problems were the lighting and the odour. And if you get a chance, drive by there anytime, you can’t miss it. It is pretty horrendous… and I understand that the residents have sort of learned to live with it but they’re not happy about it.”
“I firmly believe we really need to set standards for all sizes of operations,” said Councillor John Broderick. “It’ll prevent issues in the future, and if we don’t we are going to be playing catch up forever.”
The virtual public meeting is at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, August 23. Anyone wanting to participate in the Zoom meeting is asked to complete the request form at www.clearview.ca/Public-Meeting- Participation by noon on Friday, August 20. Observers can watch the meeting live at www.clearview.ca/YouTube. Written comments will also be accepted and must be received by noon on Friday, August 20.

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