Cannabis regulations proposed for the Fraser Valley Regional District are going to public hearing in Chilliwack on Feb. 6.
Residents of FVRD electoral areas can offer feedback by showing up in person at the upcoming hearing in the FVRD boardroom, or on Zoom, or by submitting written comments.
The FVRD board has been working on the regulations for several years after it approved a land-use policy for cannabis production, processing and retails sales in 2019. The implementation was divided into two phases.
Phase 1 saw zoning bylaw amendments drafted to prohibit Cannabis land uses in Electoral Areas D, E, F and H was completed in March 2020.
“The board considered it an urgent priority to establish these prohibitions first.”
Phase 2 is about enabling regulations to support cannabis production in the electoral areas.
Feedback from the community about cannabis production and processing in the electoral areas was sought in 2021, according to FVRD. Of the respondents, 82 per cent either lived or owned properties in an electoral area.
“The survey identified several key concerns, including odour, light pollution, environmental impact, crime and safety, increased traffic, declining property values, conversion of homes into production facilities, avoiding residential areas, dealing with illegal operations, favouring small-scale production in the Chilliwack River Valley, promoting grower responsibility, and treating cannabis production like other agricultural products, and expediting the implementation of legalized activities.”
The public hearing on Feb. 6, starts at 6 p.m. in the FVRD boardroom at 1-45950 Cheam Ave.
To participate on Zoom, 1-778-907-2071 and enter Meeting ID 832 6918 2336 or online https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83269182336.
To submit written comments, email planning@fvrd.ca or mail planning dept., FVRD, 1-45950 Cheam Ave., Chilliwack V2P1N6.
Copies of the proposed bylaw documents are at the FVRD office for viewing, or online at haveyoursay.fvrd.ca/cannabis.
READ MORE: Survey shows FVRD residents have concerns about cannabis