Mountain View County council has received public comments regarding proposed amendments to the land use bylaw, including in the area of cannabis production and sale.
The information came before councillors during the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
A project to review and update the land use bylaw is currently underway.
“The recommended changes to the land use bylaw are intended to provide clarification and clear interpretation when applicants apply and administration reviews applications,” administration said in a briefing note to council.
Two public open houses have been held as part of the project, one on April 10 and one on April 24. The open houses included visitor surveys and the collection of comment cards.
Last week administration provided a report to council on the open houses, comments received, and suggested follow up.
Regarding cannabis production, comments submitted included that, “micro-grow (operations) should be a use in the agricultural districts as this is small scale development. A landowner should be able to live and grow small scale on their property, assuming federal approvals are obtained.
“Micro-grow facilities have a size regulation and can only be profitable if the micro grow company can operate as a home business. Famers should be able to harvest cannabis.”
Administration’s suggested response to the comments reads: “Administration recommended definition of cannabis production facility does not distinguish between small or large-scale facilities. The definition is brought to include any size facility.
“Council’s direction was to add the use as a discretionary use in the industrial and heavy industry districts. However, in the future when more information on facilities that are successful under federal licencing is available the land use bylaw may be reviewed.”
Regarding dwelling density, comments received included: “Allow for support for additional housing for agriculture community; confusion related to interpretation of the maximum of four dwellings per quarter, inclusive of all parcels within the quarter section; confusion related to the secondary dwelling unit criteria; request to allow for three detaches residences to be allowed within the farm yard to allow for generations to reside on the farm.”
Administration’s suggested response to those comments reads: “Dwelling density on a quarter section basis was introduced by council in 2014 in municipal development plan policies as well as the land use bylaw. To change the dwelling density council will need to provide direction to administration.
“Administration is recommending changes to the criteria for a dwelling, secondary detached from four to three criteria so that the majority of criteria can be met.”
The proposed amendments could come back before council on June 13 for further consideration.
