Meaford Express
The medical marijuana grow operation issue continues to be a hot topic for Meaford council.
The municipality held a special public meeting on Monday, July 14 to consider new zoning regulations to govern and regulate medical marijuana operations. At the same meeting council also considered a site specific proposal to allow a medical grow operation at the Gardner property on Highway 26.
The public meeting drew a large crowd to the gallery in the council chambers. There were many speakers on both sides of the argument and the debate featured members of the Gardner family on opposing sides of the site specific issue.
Part of the meeting concentrated on the new zoning regulations being proposed by the municipality to regulate medical marijuana grow operations. This new land use would be allowed on agricultural, rural and industrial land and the planning policies contained provisions for how far such operations should be setback from neighbouring homes.
However, most of the public meeting concentrated on the site specific proposal for the Gardner property on Highway 26.
Several speakers spoke in favour of the grow operation being proposed by Rob Gardner. Multiple speakers said there is a shortage of medical marijuana in Canada and that shortage is preventing people from getting the medicine they need.
Rob Gardner explained the proposal at the meeting.
“The building is already there. It can’t be moved and it’s not used for apples. I’m trying to find another use for it,” he said. “It’s not a big water user, it’s not a big waste creator and I don’t think it will lower farmland values.”
Gardner said the facility would include a sophisticated HVAC system, would have appropriate security measures in place and neighbouring property owners would not be negatively affected by the operation.
Several people spoke at the meeting against the proposal including Gardner’s brother Jim.
“I’m very disappointed in how this matter has been handled,” Jim Gardner said, noting that he had never been notified of the proposal for a grow operation next to his home. “This prison-like structure will drive down prices of homes nearby.”
Planner Dave Slade spoke to council on behalf of neighbouring property owners Bill and Phyllis Vail. Slade said it didn’t make a lot of sense for Meaford to implement planning policies for medical grow operations and then allow an exception to those policies for the Gardner proposal.
“Be careful. In the rural area be cautious when establishing new uses,” said Slade. “You need to protect the character of the rural area.”
Slade urged council to “slow down” on the matter.
“These are facilities that will come to all municipalities – and they should – but they should be in the right spots,” he said.
No decisions about either planning matter were made at the meeting. Planner Liz Buckton told council she would consider all the comments made at the meeting and prepare a report for a future meeting.
Deputy Mayor Harley Greenfield urged the public to remember what the actual debate is about.
“Council has to deal with a planning issue. We’re not going to argue the merits of medicinal marijuana,” he said.
Councillor Lynda Stephens also indicated concerns about overall policies proposed for grow operations that would allow them on agricultural land.
“I have some concerns about the land use in the agricultural area. Buildings could be going up where there is good land that should be used as farmland,” said Stephens.
A decision on both items will be made at a future council meeting.
Marijuana matter burns up Meaford council
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