A zoning amendment to permit the cultivation of cannabis in a greenhouse on a three-acre property in the Palmerston Industrial Park has been approved.
Minto council approved the amendment for the proposed site of a medical marijuana production facility in a bylaw passed following a public meeting on Sept. 5.
However, a holding provision to ensure adequate servicing is in place and will remain until the town receives details about the project, including a site plan and servicing information.
Council must then pass another bylaw to remove the holding provision.
On July 18, town council approved an offer from Jack Krosinski, director of Krosinski Enterprises Ltd. of Mississauga, to purchase land in the park for a facility to produce medical cannabis and, “as the law permits,” recreational cannabis.
Krosinski has been working with Health Canada on the approvals process for such a facility since 2013. The business is planning construction of a 5,000 square foot processing facility and three 5,000ft2 cultivation greenhouses.
Wellington County senior planner Curtis Marshall noted in a report that the county is supportive of the rezoning.
He stated the county is satisfied the proposal is consistent with the provincial policy statement and is in general conformity with the county’s official plan.
“The processing component of the operation is permitted by the zoning on the property as an industrial use, however it is the cultivation in a greenhouse on a permanent basis which requires an amendment to the zoning by-law,” the report explains.
Krosinski assured council the facility would be secure.
“I want to maintain the highest security level,” he stated.
Proposed security measures include:
– a 12-foot high wire fence around the perimeter of the property;
– a secure gated entrance;
– 24/7 security cameras and floodlights outside building structures;
– live monitoring from inside the building;
– monitored intrusion/unauthorized-access sensors;
– internal video surveillance;
– multi-step verification access control;
– a vault; and
– crop profiling.
Personnel working at the site will be subject to a police record check prior to commencing employment, with RCMP security clearance required for employees in key positions.
Krosinski told council he plans to move his family to the area.
“We will be moving here. I am the proud father of four little girls, so I wouldn’t be bringing a business … that would in someway endanger them or have an adverse effect upon them,” he said.
Although not required, Krosinski said the greenhouses would be equipped with a blackout system to allay concerns about “light pollution” from the facility.
Krosinski explained his interest in medical marijuana began in 2012, when he researched the product after his mother-in-law developed colon cancer.
Through she ultimately declined to use cannabis, Krosinski said his father later used the product with some success when he developed cancer.
As the result of his father’s experience and the research he did personally, Krosinski concluded, “folks should have access to cannabis as an alternative. It’s not a medicine for everyone, but it does assist some folks.”
While noting the facility would provide “marginal employment” of about eight people at the beginning, other facilities that have been up and running for a while employ between 50 and 120 people, Krosinski said.
“So there is some employment impact on the community.”
Councillor David Turton said, “I’m fully behind this. I think it’s great. It’s a nice looking building, it’s going to look beautiful in our industrial park and I like the idea of eight jobs to start and many more to come.”
Deputy Mayor Ron Faulkner, who also expressed support for the project, asked if the business might eventually include a drying operation to facilitate production of cannabis oil.
While it might be possible to add oil production, Krosinski said start-up costs for equipment are high and currently he does not plan to move in that direction.
Councillor Mary Lou Colwell asked if the impending legalization of recreational marijuana in Canada would change the business.
“There’s only a certain (market) capacity – obviously we’d like to maximize the land that we have,” Krosinski replied. “From a business point of view there will be more demand for it, but we have to look at the fact there will be more competition.”
If recreational marijuana production was added, Krosinski said, “Nothing would change other than the sale of it” and all security measures would remain in place. Currently the plan for medical marijuana distribution at the facility is through mail order only.
Mayor George Bridge urged Krosinski to keep council apprised of his needs as he works to start up the business.
“I hope you can get started as soon as possible. It’s a process, I know,” said Bridge.
While no one spoke in opposition to the proposal at the public meeting, a letter of concern from Minto resident Dale Hurlbut was read into the record.
“I have worked with those addicted to regular marijuana and I feel this is not in the best interest of the community. It may generate income, yet the long-term costs will be more,” stated Hurlbut, who also wondered if adequate security would be provided at the facility.
“I think those questions were more than answered,” through reports and presentations at the meeting, said CAO Bill White.
