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Oro-Medonte holding public meeting to discuss cannabis facilities

April 7 meeting, which will be live streamed, will focus on zoning bylaw amendment
2019-12-09 cannabis GL
Cannabis crop. Courtesy of The Canadian Press

Oro-Medonte council will hold a public meeting next week to discuss guidelines for cannabis production and processing facilities that want to set up shop in the township.

The April 7 meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. It will focus on a zoning bylaw amendment, in which staff are recommending, among other measures, that any such facility be at least 150 metres away from “sensitive land use” areas, which include existing residential buildings, existing places of worship and land containing or zoned to permit a public or private school, day nursery, public park or community centre.

“(Residents) are concerned and think that there should be tighter controls as to where they are,” Mayor Harry Hughes said of cannabis operations. “They’re anxious to see us do something in terms of a new bylaw.”

Under the comprehensive zoning bylaw passed in 1997, cannabis production and processing facilities are permitted in various zones, including agricultural/rural and economic development.

Council recently voted unanimously to direct staff to restrict those operations to rural industrial and economic development. That came after a public meeting was held in December, when council received plenty of feedback from residents who were concerned about the proximity of cannabis facilities to residences — specifically, a medical cannabis operation on Line 7 in Oro Station.

Hughes said the township was given assurances from the operator that there would be no issues with odour, noise or light.

“Unfortunately, none of those promises were held to 100 per cent,” he said.

The zoning bylaw amendment will not affect the existing facility — unless it wants to expand — but it will set out stricter rules for others that might want to come to Oro-Medonte.

The April 7 meeting will be live streamed on the township website.

Written submissions from residents can be sent to [email protected], put in the mail drop box at the township administration office on Line 7 South or faxed to 705-487-0133. Names and addresses must be included.

All comments delivered to the drop box by 5 p.m. April 7 that include names and addresses will be read aloud by staff during the meeting. ​​The same goes for comments and questions received by email prior to or during the meeting.

Hughes said council is not looking for residents’ opinions on cannabis and cannabis facilities in general.

“What is useful to council is comments specific to the wording of the bylaw,” he said.

Staff’s presentation, including slides, will be posted on the township website March 31.

After the meeting, residents can still provide additional submissions up until 4:30 p.m. on April 14.

Staff will then prepare a report with a recommendation on the zoning bylaw amendment, which will be up for consideration by council on April 29. After that, there will be a 20-day appeal period.

Information about the April 7 meeting can be found here.