Posted on another site UPDATE: Essex Counci

Posted on another site

UPDATE: Essex Council Meeting Regarding Cen Biotech Notes

Public meeting regarding Cen Biotech Feb 2 2015... Council meeting is on the Feb 16th 2015. Read that, it seems that the Provincial government is flexing and saying that municipalities need to enforce their rules which classifies Medical Marijuana Production as AGRICULTURAL. Therefore I think the public meeting is just a formality, and obviously the same locals still don't want FITX in their town BUT Essex will overturn Lakeshore decision and rezone it back to AGRICULTURAL. Read it, am I wrong?


"Of note, the Provincial Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) and the Ministry of
Agriculture, Farms and Food Production (OMAFRA) recognize medical marijuana production
as an agricultural use along the same lines as a greenhouse or winery"

"Control of such operations locally would be through the local official plan and zoning bylaws,
both of which must conform to the mandates of the Province, as set out in the Provincial
Policy Statement (PPS)"

"The PPS, under 2.3 Agriculture, states that “in prime agricultural areas, permitted uses and
activities are: Agricultural uses, agricultural related uses and on-farm diversified uses. In prime
agricultural areas, all types of, sizes and intensities of agricultural uses and normal farm
practises shall be promoted and protected….”

As such, a complete prohibition of marijuana production facilities is contrary to the PPS.
Rather, regulation of their location and site plan would range from our current liberal policies
to site specific rezoning.

One could liken them to a greenhouse operation or to a mushroom farm. In terms of impact
on sensitive land uses, like a dwelling, both have negative impacts, mushroom farms more so.
Both can be large facilities with 24 hour operations, including truck transport. Both can be
associated with external odours or the use of air borne pesticides. But the new licensing
standards established by Health Canada are intended to mitigate the potential negative
impacts of odours and other air borne pollutants.

As such, the potential negative impacts on adjacent land occupiers are likely to be more
of a psychological or aesthetic nature"





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