Alberni – Clayoquot Regional District directors used their limited powers yesterday to prevent a large scale cannabis production facility.
With concerns about odour and the effects on the water table, Electoral District directors have asked the planning department to develop a bylaw to restrict new, cement-based buildings for cannabis production.
A proposed 377,000 square foot cannabis campus is being proposed on the 170-acre former Pine Dell ranch that stretches from the airport to Great Central Lake Road.
Kris McInness who moved to the Alberni Valley 2 years ago, said he’s already considering selling the home he’s been building on Great Central Lake Road.
He said the odours produced by the facility would be devastating to neighbours within a kilometre of the facility, and water demands for cannabis would put the community aquifer in jeopardy.
Close to 50 Sproat Lake area residents crammed into the ACRD boardroom yesterday afternoon to show their opposition to the project, and were backed by their area director Penny Cote.
ACRD Board chair John Jack said most concerns of Sproat Lake area residents fall under provincial jurisdiction.
Electoral District directors asked the planning department to develop a bylaw to restrict new, cement-based buildings for cannabis production as a way to thwart the proposed WildCoast Cannabis Campus on the former Pine-Del Ranch property.
Even without a building, WildCoast Canna is still planning on greenhouse and open-air cannabis production in the section of property covered by the Agricultural Land Reserve Act.
No one from WildCoast Canna spoke at the meeting.
The issue will come back to the board on September 11th.
https://www.wildcoastcanna.com/
