Pubdate: Tue, 03 Dec 2013
Source: Seattle Times (WA)
Copyright: 2013 The Seattle Times Company
Contact:  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/409
Author: Bob Young
Page: 7

COUNTY IS ASKED TO BLOCK POT FARM

Zoning Vote Delayed

Redmond Ridge Residents Fight Indoor Growing Site Planned for Business
Park

About 30 residents of Redmond Ridge told the Metropolitan King County
Council on Monday that allowing legal indoor marijuana growing in
their community's business park would be detrimental to their children.

It's a dense community with a lot of children, they argued. Some
offered concerns about crime, smell and fire. There has to be a better
place for pot businesses, they said.

"The real issue is the proximity of an unknown and untested
trailblazing pot-production plant that should have its test run
elsewhere," said Jen Boon, a mother of three and president of the
Redmond Ridge Residential Owners Association.

Most from the community of more than 1,200 homes in unincorporated
King County aren't opposed to pot per se; 57 percent of them supported
legal pot through last year's Initiative 502.

Some acknowledged the proposed site appears legal because it would be
more than 1,000 feet from prohibited areas, such as schools and parks.
But they insisted it would still be wrong because of the proximity of
children.

County Council members decided to delay a vote on pot zoning for one
week, saying it needed more thorough review. "We heard significant
testimony today," said Councilmember Jane Hague.

At issue is a zoning plan for unincorporated parts of King County,
home to 325,000 residents. The zoning would allow outdoor pot farms in
rural and agricultural areas and indoor farms in community and
regional business and industrial zones. Up to 11 retail stores would
be allowed in community and regional business zones.

In the first week of applications for state-regulated pot-business
licenses, two entrepreneurs - Red Ridge Farms and Triumph Cannabis --
sought to open growing and processing facilities in the Redmond Ridge
business park.

Resident Julianne Bogaty noted that was about a third of a mile as the
crow flies from a school.

Boon said she was concerned about smells and possible fires at a
production facility. Others expressed concerns about crime, increased
intoxication and youth access to marijuana.

"This is going to be an absolute magnet for crime," said state Sen.
Andy Hill, R-Redmond, who also told council members he had concerns
about what pot facilities might do to Redmond Ridge property values.

State officials have limited pot farms to 30,000 square feet, roughly
three-quarters of an acre. They left zoning, permitting and safety
rules for pot businesses to local jurisdictions to decide.

State rules call for the farms, processors and stores to be secure and
kept under constant video surveillance.

State officials have made public safety their top priority in creating
a legal marijuana industry. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is
allowing the state to proceed, despite a federal ban on all pot,
because the state is adhering to DOJ priorities, particularly for
preventing youth access to marijuana.

Under state rules, every pot plant and every gram of marijuana from it
will be tracked from seed-to-sale. If state watchdogs find that any
pot is unaccounted for - and possibly diverted to the illicit market -
it could lead to a business losing its license.

Pot entrepreneurs must also meet state residency requirements and
undergo fingerprinting and thorough background checks.

Tim Hatley, representing Red Ridge Farms, said the local business park
was specifically created at some distance from recreational,
residential and school areas. Any pot-business applicants must still
have their plans vetted by the state, Hatley noted, before they get a
license.

Jack Smith, who first testified to the council about immigration
policy, had a different view.

If residents believe legal pot will harm their children, Smith said,
they should have been out in force opposing last year's statewide vote
to legalize adult possession of small amounts of pot.

"Loads of us can't vote because we hold green cards," said Redmond
Ridge East resident Jasmina Cernak. "I can tell you 99 percent would
be against legalization."
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MAP posted-by: Matt