Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
A medical marijuana facility will be starting up on Annacis Island after more than four years of legal disputes and council delays.
On June 26, council voted unanimously to approve the facility at 1668 Fosters Way, despite objections from UA Plumbers and Piperfitters Union Local 170, who occupy the building next door.
International Herbs Medical Marijuana Ltd. first applied to rezone its property to allow medical marijuana production back in March 2014.
The company had actually applied for a medical marijuana production license from Health Canada back in 2013, but was told the application had to be tied to a specific production site, as Health Canada would need to conduct an inspection before issuing the final license.
Earlier, in 2014, Delta council had amended the land use bylaw so that medical marijuana production and research was not allowed in any zone – those interested in producing medical marijuana would have to apply for site-specific rezoning, giving council the ability to approve production facilities on a case-by-case basis.
The provincial government overrode this bylaw change in June 2014, allowing businesses to produce cannabis in the agricultural land reserve without needing the Corporation of Delta's approval.
As International Herbs' property is located in a heavy industrial zone, an application to the municipality was necessary.
The site-specific zoning, which was finally approved by council this week, includes a number of stipulations for the production facility, such as bans on the retail sale of goods from the building, activities other than marijuana production taking place in the building and the emission of pollen, particles and odors from the building.
Council gave the rezoning first and second readings on May 12, 2014, and it was taken to a public hearing on May 27, 2014.
The public hearing
At the public hearing Joe Shayler, business manager for UA Plumbers and Piperfitters Union Local 170, spoke out against the rezoning. The union has a building next door to the proposed medical marijuana facility which includes a training school and restaurant.
Shayler had spoken out against the proposed rezoning before, in a letter to council shortly after the International Herbs sent in its application. In the letter, Shayler wrote that the union was "particularly concerned about [the facility's] impact on the training school and how it will ... have an ill effect on enrolment, the restaurant which has an outdoor seating area and the smell associated with marijuana production, security or increased crime in the area, increased traffic, [and] the already very limited amount of parking available."
At the May 27, 2014 public hearing, Shayler also indicated that the union was worried about the proposed facility having an adverse affect on them because of the no drug and alcohol policy in their collective agreement.
Shayler was the only person to speak out against the rezoning at the public hearing, although no one besides International Herbs' owner and CEO Rick Brar was there to support the proposal either.
Brar addressed many of Shayler's concerns, such as parking, smell and security.
According to Brar, the building would have heavy security, including electronic gates, restricted entries, video monitoring and color-coded staff uniforms based on duties. Few people would be given access to the whole building. He also noted that there would be no foot traffic – product would be picked up by an armored vehicle and delivered by Canada Post.
Delta's deputy director of planning Marcy Sangret also indicated at the public hearing that safety and security would be a top priority. Health Canada, which issues medical marijuana production licenses, inspects all production facilities annually and has stringent requirements for airborne emissions. Sangret also said Delta police were told they could inspect the building as well.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical marijuana production facility to open on Annacis Island - Surrey Now-Leader
Author: Grace Kennedy
Contact: Contact Us - Surrey Now-Leader
Photo Credit: Grace Kennedy
Website: Home - Surrey Now-Leader
On June 26, council voted unanimously to approve the facility at 1668 Fosters Way, despite objections from UA Plumbers and Piperfitters Union Local 170, who occupy the building next door.
International Herbs Medical Marijuana Ltd. first applied to rezone its property to allow medical marijuana production back in March 2014.
The company had actually applied for a medical marijuana production license from Health Canada back in 2013, but was told the application had to be tied to a specific production site, as Health Canada would need to conduct an inspection before issuing the final license.
Earlier, in 2014, Delta council had amended the land use bylaw so that medical marijuana production and research was not allowed in any zone – those interested in producing medical marijuana would have to apply for site-specific rezoning, giving council the ability to approve production facilities on a case-by-case basis.
The provincial government overrode this bylaw change in June 2014, allowing businesses to produce cannabis in the agricultural land reserve without needing the Corporation of Delta's approval.
As International Herbs' property is located in a heavy industrial zone, an application to the municipality was necessary.
The site-specific zoning, which was finally approved by council this week, includes a number of stipulations for the production facility, such as bans on the retail sale of goods from the building, activities other than marijuana production taking place in the building and the emission of pollen, particles and odors from the building.
Council gave the rezoning first and second readings on May 12, 2014, and it was taken to a public hearing on May 27, 2014.
The public hearing
At the public hearing Joe Shayler, business manager for UA Plumbers and Piperfitters Union Local 170, spoke out against the rezoning. The union has a building next door to the proposed medical marijuana facility which includes a training school and restaurant.
Shayler had spoken out against the proposed rezoning before, in a letter to council shortly after the International Herbs sent in its application. In the letter, Shayler wrote that the union was "particularly concerned about [the facility's] impact on the training school and how it will ... have an ill effect on enrolment, the restaurant which has an outdoor seating area and the smell associated with marijuana production, security or increased crime in the area, increased traffic, [and] the already very limited amount of parking available."
At the May 27, 2014 public hearing, Shayler also indicated that the union was worried about the proposed facility having an adverse affect on them because of the no drug and alcohol policy in their collective agreement.
Shayler was the only person to speak out against the rezoning at the public hearing, although no one besides International Herbs' owner and CEO Rick Brar was there to support the proposal either.
Brar addressed many of Shayler's concerns, such as parking, smell and security.
According to Brar, the building would have heavy security, including electronic gates, restricted entries, video monitoring and color-coded staff uniforms based on duties. Few people would be given access to the whole building. He also noted that there would be no foot traffic – product would be picked up by an armored vehicle and delivered by Canada Post.
Delta's deputy director of planning Marcy Sangret also indicated at the public hearing that safety and security would be a top priority. Health Canada, which issues medical marijuana production licenses, inspects all production facilities annually and has stringent requirements for airborne emissions. Sangret also said Delta police were told they could inspect the building as well.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical marijuana production facility to open on Annacis Island - Surrey Now-Leader
Author: Grace Kennedy
Contact: Contact Us - Surrey Now-Leader
Photo Credit: Grace Kennedy
Website: Home - Surrey Now-Leader
