Pubdate: Mon, 17 Mar 2014
Source: Prince George Citizen (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Prince George Citizen
Contact:  http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/350
Author: Charelle Evelyn
Page: 3

TOKE TWO: REGIONAL DISTRICT TRIES AGAIN ON POT ZONING

The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George is taking another whiff of
public input into its zoning requirements for medical marijuana facilities.

On Thursday, the board of directors will hold another public hearing
on its plan to restrict federally licenced grow ops to agricultural
areas beginning at 1:30 in the regional district's George Street boardroom.

Last month, a bylaw stipulating a minimum of 16 hectares (40 acres) on
land zoned as Rural or M5 Agriculture Industry was put up for public
hearing and board debate.

But directors voted to change that to an even larger requirement - 259
hectares, or 640 acres - and send it back to public hearing in a bid
to stall for time while they figured out a different course of action.

"Ultimately, most proposed sites will likely [be required] to be
re-zoned to accommodate new facilities," said a staff report from
development services manager Terry McEachen.

The proposed bylaw also includes rear and side setbacks of 60 metres
and front setbacks of 30 metres.

During the mid-February hearing, some residents expressed concern over
the size requirements, saying it would put a damper on small businesses.

Under the federal government's new Marijuana for Medical Purposes
Regulation effective April 1, production facilities licensed by Health
Canada would be allowed in the same areas as other intensive
agricultural uses and kept out of areas zoned as residential.

The federal regulations restrict facilities from being inside a
residential dwelling and limit production, packaging and labeling to
being done indoors at the producer's site. Cannabis can only be stored
indoors on site and can only be destroyed by legislated methods that
don't result in anyone being exposed to smoke. The site's perimeter
must be secured against intruders with physical barriers monitored by
visual recording devices.

The Agricultural Land Commission has said medical marijuana production
qualifies as a farm use.

Regional district staff also put together a summary of how other B.C.
local governments have handled the same issue.

"Municipalities are generally directing the use to industrial areas
and will likely require rezoning consideration," said the report.
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MAP posted-by: Matt