Pubdate: Tue, 23 Apr 2013
Source: Maple Ridge Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc
Contact:  http://www.mrtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1372
Author: Maria Rantanen

GROW-OP DEBATE RAGES ON

Maple Ridge Council Is Dealing With Marijuana Grow-Ops On Several
Fronts

Marijuana grow operations are annoying Maple Ridge people in both
rural areas and the industrial park.

As Maple Ridge council is set to discuss its proposed bylaw on
restricting medical marijuana grow operations to agricultural areas at
tonight (Tuesday's) council meeting, they are also considering
remedial action against a medical grow-op in the Maple Meadows
industrial area that neighbours say is emanating bad smells.

Three units, 103 to 105, at 11410 Kingston St., have been combined and
renovated to house a marijuana grow-op.

Maple Ridge District staff have been on site and have asked the owner
and tenants to mitigate the odour. They were asked to retain a
consultant in December to find a solution the odour problem.

Neighbouring businesses have complained that the smell is so bad it is
making their products unmarketable.

In the meantime, one Whonnock resident is complaining that marijuana
grow-ops in his rural area are making the neighbourhood unsafe, and he
agreed with former councillor Craig Speirs who is advocating for
grow-ops to be placed in industrial parks.

Mark Mellish said his area is "changing dramatically" with the advent
of grow-ops. He said he can see three grow-ops from his Whonnock home.

In addition to the smell, he's worried about fires, chemicals going
into the groundwater, and crime resulting from the operations.

"Our area is rapidly losing its sense of being a family-friendly
community," he wrote in a letter to Maple Ridge mayor and council.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D