Pubdate: Tue, 18 Feb 2014
Source: Peace Arch News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Peace Arch News
Contact:  http://www.peacearchnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1333
Author: Tracy Holmes

PUBLIC HEARING SET ON POT BAN

The public will have a say on a recommendation to prohibit
medical-marijuana operations in White Rock.

The move to ban the grow-ops has been suggested by city staff
following legal advice aimed at helping B.C. municipalities prepare
for new federal rules around the operations.

Council voted unanimously without comment Feb. 4 (with Couns. Louise
Hutchinson, Al Campbell and Bill Lawrence absent) to give the
amendment first and second reading, and direct staff to schedule a
public hearing.

A report by the city's acting director of development services notes
that an amendment which had been suggested by the former director last
month - to create a zone for the operations but not apply the zone to
any properties - would be unenforceable.

"A zoning amendment bylaw is invalid if it provides for a zone but
does not actually zone a property," Richard Wilson writes.

Staff were asked to review the Jan. 13 recommendations for amendments
to omnibus Bylaw 2000, following the dismissal of the former director.

In addition to prohibiting the grow-ops, Wilson recommends
"housekeeping" amendments regarding retaining walls and elevated
concrete patios, shipping containers, coach houses and RS-3 zoning on
four properties (14579-14597 Marine Dr.).

The latter - which involves returning the front-yard setbacks of the
four lots to 7.5 metres - was dealt with by council at their Jan. 13
meeting. The setbacks had been reduced to a minimum of three metres
when the zoning was changed to RS-1 with adoption of Bylaw 2000. The
owners asked for the move to be reversed in order to retain their
waterfront views.

The public hearing is scheduled for Feb. 24, prior to the evening's
council meeting.
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MAP posted-by: Matt