Sechelt Council gave three readings to rezone Lot L from rural residential to industrial during their Sept. 3 regular council meeting, despite public opposition to the plan.
The rezoning will have to come back to council for fourth reading and final adoption in the future.
Sechelt wants to rezone Lot L, a 3.5 hectare property off Dusty Road that was purchased by the previous council for a future sewage treatment plant, and then sell off a portion of it to companies looking for large industrial sites to set up shop in Sechelt.
The District proposes using the easterly 1.9 hectares of Lot L for a new public works and parks department and subdividing the remaining 1.6 hectares into two large industrial lots.
Staff and council have said in the past that a medicinal marijuana producer is considering setting up shop on one of those lots, which would be permitted under the new zoning.
At a public hearing on the subject on July 29 none of the 14 speakers was in favour of the move, citing concerns with the potential impact on other businesses, added noise, environmental concerns and fears around the possibility of a medicinal marijuana facility setting up on Lot L.
At the Sept. 3 council meeting Coun. Mike Shanks brought up the concerns about marijuana cultivation on site.
“It may be appropriate at a future council meeting to place a moratorium on medicinal marijuana applications until we can assess the impact of those operations in our community at the present time,” Shanks said.
He asked council to retain the existing RR2 zoning of Lot L and not approve the sale of any part of it.
Coun. Darnelda Siegers said the issue of rezoning Lot L didn’t have to do with “selling anything.”
“At this point we’re looking at rezoning. If it comes before us at some point to sell something, at that point council will make a decision, but that is not on the table at this point,” Siegers said.
Coun. Alice Lutes noted that if there was no plan to sell the property then “what is the hurry to amend the bylaw?”
“I think that we can leave it as it is until there’s a reason to change it,” Lutes said.
“We’ve got the whole community upset, full of rumours and discomfort with the possibility of medical marijuana and if we change this bylaw now, when there’s no need to, it just instills that fear even deeper.”
Mayor John Henderson noted he didn’t know much about the medicinal marijuana businesses and said staff is working on setting up an information meeting on the topic for council and the community to learn more in the future.
“I think that as far as that topic we need a lot more information. So we’re not here talking about medical marijuana here today as far as I’m concerned,” Henderson said, noting the need for industrial land was driving the rezoning request.
“That’s where I’m coming from. Today is about rezoning.”
When second and third reading of the proposed zoning amendment bylaw were called all but Lutes and Shanks voted in favour of changing Lot L to an I-7 zone.
After the vote Lutes brought up the fact that no one was in favour of the move at the public hearing but Henderson noted “we had other feedback that was not negative.”
At the close of the meeting a member of the public asked where the other feedback came from.
“We receive input from all manner of sources,” Henderson said.
“That’s what people are elected for, it’s to make decisions in the best interests of the District of Sechelt and we do it to the best of our ability.”
When a member of the public said the citizens should be provided a list of the “other sources” council consulted with, Henderson replied, “No ma’am, I’m sorry I don’t agree. That’s how we all make decisions.”
