Pubdate: Thu, 29 May 2014
Source: Standard, The (St. Catharines, CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 St. Catharines Standard
Contact: http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/letters
Website: http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/676
Author: Suzanne Mason
Page: A6

MARIJUANA GROWER GETS PRELIMINARY COUNCIL BACKING

24,000-square-foot greenhouse plus existing building part of plan

A Georgetown company's site plan for a medicinal marijuana operation
in an agricultural area has preliminary approval from the Town of
Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Park Lane Farms, which holds a conditional licence from Health Canada
to grow marijuana, wants to construct a 24,000 square foot greenhouse
in addition to an existing greenhouse and erect a barbed wire security
fence around the two buildings at 453 Concession 5 Rd.

Company president Angus Footman told the community and development
advisory committee Monday the operation would provide more than 45
jobs with an additional 15 to come later, if a research and
development facility were approved a year from now.

Footman said the new regulations brought in by Health Canada for
medicinal marijuana operations require extensive background checks on
owners and employees by the RCMP and the provision of security and
monitoring systems.

He said traffic to the facility would be minimal, with a delivery
truck coming once a day and all orders for the crop being handled
through the mail. Footman said he has had discussions with
neighbouring property owners - Coyote's Run Estate Winery and Garden
City Growers - and they are supportive of the application.

Town staff recommended approval of the company's site plan
application, noting the property is in a rural area that allows
commercial greenhouses and that the proposed fence complies with town
bylaws for non-residential areas.

Some councillors were concerned over possible odours from the
operation, following complaints from neighbours about a legal
marijuana grow-op on Lakeshore Rd. earlier this year.

"The Health Canada regulations are clear," said Footman, regarding a
zero tolerance policy.

"There is no ambiguity whatsoever."

Nevertheless, staff recommended a condition of site plan approval
include a provision that the applicant satisfy the town that odour
mitigation measures are in place.

"It's a primary concern for residents locally," said the director of
community and development services John Henricks. "We wanted to be
100% certain that it was addressed."

He said if the town received complaints about a smell, Health Canada
would be contacted to investigate.

Asked by Coun. Martin Mazza about the company's options if the town
turned down the site plan application, Hendricks said the decision
could be appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board.

Coun. Jim Collard called the Concession 5 Rd. application "quite a
different situation" than the Lakeshore Rd. operation that had been
approved under previous Health Canada regulations.

The committee voted unanimously in favour of the site plan, which goes
to council next week for final approval. Coun. Dennis Dick declared a
conflict of interest and did not vote, as he is employed as a
consultant for Park Lane Farms for sanitary sewers.
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