The Municipality of Arran-Elderslie will hold a special council meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday evening to hear public comments about a proposed small-batch, craft cannabis facility that could be coming to town.
Greg and Lisa Thorn plan to establish the facility along Bruce Road 17, in the village of Tara. Though the rural property is zoned for low-density residential and general agriculture, the municipality's zoning by-law hasn't been updated since cannabis legalization, so it doesn't address "micro cultivation" or "micro processing cannabis facility" on A1-zoned properties. As such, the applicants require a zoning by-law amendment to move forward with the project.
That has opened the project up to public comment, and so far over 25 comments have been shared with municipal and county staff opposing the facility.
Major concerns highlighted from those opposed range from potential odours, to light pollution, to increased crime.
"It's no secret as to the type of people that products of this nature will attract," wrote Leroy Brubacher in opposition.
Most comments also pointed out the unpleasant odour provided by the Lallemand Bio-Ingredient plant and say the cannabis would make it worse.
"The unpleasant ‘yeast’ smell that it releases from them already has us known as the 'Stink Town' or the 'Northern Rothsay... We do not want another smelly, stinking odour released for us to smell in Tara or Invermay," wrote Dennis and Lorie Alpaugh.
The proposed facility is less than 500 square metres, with a grow surface of up to 200 square metres. The building will be completely enclosed, with a single office exterior window at the front and no exterior light pollution expected to be produced.
The planning justification report completed by consultant Miriam Vasni notes that the site is designed in a manner where all exhaust points are controlled for odour. Overall she concluded "the proposed development has merit and constitutes good planning."
Council will not be making a decision on the facility at the meeting, it is just inviting residents to share their thoughts. Once Bruce County planners have collected all the information from the special meeting, another report on the property should return to council.
To find out more about the meeting or to view a livestream, visit the municipality's website.