Pubdate: Fri, 06 Mar 2015
Source: Metro (Vancouver, CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Metro Canada
Contact:  http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3775
Author: Thandi Fletcher
Page: 4

JUST SAYING NO TO POT ... FACILITY

Maple Ridge. Locals Worried About Size, Possible Smell From Proposed 
Medical Marijuana Greenhouse

Residents of Maple Ridge are fuming over plans for a massive 
medical-marijuana facility in their neighbourhood.

Sylvie Jensen, who lives near the property where the 
40,000-square-foot greenhouse will go up, said she and her neighbours 
are worried about the size and possible smell from the proposed facility.

"It just doesn't belong in this community," she told Metro. "It's in 
the middle of a residential neighbourhood. We have a Montessori 
school across the street, we have two churches and we have many 
residential homes."

The greenhouse, being built at 272nd Street and Bell Avenue in 
Whonnock, will be home to Vancouver-based company Tantalus Labs.

Dan Sutton, the company's managing director, said Health Canada 
hasn't yet issued a licence to grow medical marijuana in the facility 
but the company plans on building the greenhouse regardless of what 
will grow inside.

But residents, including Jensen, said a large-scale greenhouse "just 
doesn't fit" in the neighbourhood.

She said neighbours are also worried about possible odours, light 
pollution and water management, as Whonnock is located on a 
"vulnerable aquifer."

But Sutton said the greenhouse is designed with technology to 
minimize light pollution and filter odours and will operate on a 
separate water system from the city.

Understanding the community's concerns, however, Tantalus Labs is 
hosting a public forum to give residents an opportunity to give their 
input. The event is taking place March 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 
the Whonnock Community Centre.

Mayor Nicole Read said she is pleased with the company's willingness 
to hear residents' concerns.

Still, she said the city is seeking greater transparency from Health 
Canada about the facility as well as 12 other medicalmarijuana 
applications for Maple Ridge.

She said the greenhouse is being built on Agricultural Land Reserve 
(ALR) designated property, where medical-marijuana facilities are a 
permitted use.

Due to privacy legislation, however, the city can't release details 
about the facilities, such as location, which results in facilities 
springing up on ALR property in residential neighbourhoods, Read said.

"Right now, there's a lot of concern," she said. "What we need to do 
as a local government is alleviate some of that concern by getting as 
much information as we can."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom