More than 150 Oro-Medonte residents provided their opinions on where cannabis production facilities should be allowed in the township as part of a recent public meeting.
The April 7 meeting, which was live streamed, focused 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 were invited to mail, drop off or email their feedback. The response was so great, it took staff three hours to read all of the submissions aloud.
“That is a lot if you look at the number of submissions that usually come in (for a public meeting),” said Mayor Harry Hughes.
That response, he said, shows “the communication has been fairly effective and people know about what’s taking place."
“It also tells you people are concerned,” he said. “They want more controls put in place than what exists.”
The majority of those who submitted feedback were in favour of limiting the facilities to land that is zoned industrial and employment, Hughes said, and some suggested a setback of more than the 150 metres currently being considered.
While “most people would look at growing crops as an agricultural component,” he said, some land zoned as agricultural is close to built-up areas.
Staff will consider the comments provided by residents and council members and is expected to have a draft bylaw up for consideration before council on April 29.
As the township navigates changes to the bylaw, it is keeping an eye on a specific property.
The mayor noted there have been “rumours” in the community about a cannabis or “cannabis-like” operation that could be in the works on more than 200 acres of land north of the rail trail, between Lines 2 and 3, near Shanty Bay.
That land is zoned agricultural and the owners have not made any applications to the township, Hughes said, which means, if the zoning bylaw amendment passes and limits cannabis production operations to industrial and employment land, it would not be permitted on that site.
He said bylaw officers have been monitoring the work that’s been happening on the property — including tree removal, the digging of a pond and what looks like the creation of a parking lot — for about six months.
“There have been violations and there are charges, but none of them can be acted upon until the courts are back in place,” Hughes said. “There’s all kinds of issues in terms of whether they can pull out those trees, dig this large pond.”
Because the province’s courts are only hearing “urgent” matters, when the charges will be dealt with in court is unknown. Hughes said that’s why he couldn’t divulge details about the violations and charges.
“We aren’t able to answer those questions specifically, other than to say bylaw has been involved and there have been charges,” he said. “We’re waiting on the courts.”
Releasing those details now, he added, “has the potential of weakening council’s position.”
Online council meetings
Oro-Medonte’s virtual council meetings have been “working out very well,” Hughes said.
The April 7 meeting was the first public meeting to be live streamed by the township. About 150 people watched live, and it has since been viewed another 700-plus times.
After hearing some concerns about the legality of holding meetings online, Hughes wanted to reassure residents that the province is allowing municipalities to do so during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The township is live streaming all of its council meetings. More information can be found on the township website.
