YARMOUTH, N.S. — Only two residents stepped up to share their opinion at a Feb. 5 meeting concerning a zoning amendment that would allow businesses to grow and process all types of plant products, including cannabis, in the town's industrial zones.
But there were close to 300 responses to an online survey prior to the meeting, with 60 per cent in favour of the amendment.
Local resident Doris Powell says she is fine with the amendment pertaining to industrial areas (on the eastern side of town) but that she had an issue with allowing a cannabis growing facility along the waterfront.
“It just boggles my mind that you people would allow anything that would blight our beautiful ocean front,” she said. “We could be using it for green space, promenades, boardwalks, restaurants. It’s just crazy.”
Martha Cassidy agreed with Powell about keeping cannabis production away from the waterfront. She also suggested that if a facility didn’t work out for growing cannabis, it could be used for growing other greenhouse crops like cucumbers and tomatoes.
After considerable discussion, the Planning Advisory Committee approved a motion to recommend to council to proceed with a public hearing in order to consider the amendment as outlined in the report, with the removal of the Waterfront Industrial (M-2) zones.
More information on the application
