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BERNIE RAVEN CHRIS RAVEN 1-866-598-7415 TEAMRAVEN.CA Offices in Panorama, Invermere & Fairmont
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Bruce and Ann McIntosh dance up a storm under red and green spotlights at the Columbia Valley Hospice Society’s second annual Butterfly Barn Dance fundraiser at the historic K2 ranch on Saturday, October 4th. This total raised by the event this year was yet to be calculated as of press deadline. For more Barn Dance photos see this week’s Pioneer.
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Maxwell Realty Invermere
PHOTO BY ERIN KNUTSON
PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NO. 7856
RDEK holds hearing on medical marijuana farming ERIN KNUTSON Special to the Valley Echo A controversial public hearing was held at the Windermere Community Hall on Monday, September 29th to discuss the important issue of the option to legally grow medical marijuana in the valley. The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) board of directors recently authorized public hearings for amendments to Official Community Plans or land use bylaws and zoning bylaws in RDEK Electoral Areas A, B, C, F and G. The suggested amendments cite new federal regulations for the commercial production of medical marijuana. A total of four proposed bylaw amendments will essentially give a green light already given by the federal government on the growing of marijuana for medicinal purposes in ALR (Agricultural Land Reserve)
and I1 (light industrial) zoning areas ing operations met the requirements including those covered under the specified by the government to classiSteamboat – Jubilee Mountain Official fy them in the existing ALR and I1 catCommunity Plan; those under the Lake egories. Windermere Official Community Plan “The right to farm medical marijuaBylaw; those under Upper Columbia na now exists — you can start tomorValley Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 1992 and row with the application process. The those covered under amendments have the Fairmont Hot been permitted at This right to farm Springs Area Official the senior-municmedical marijuana Community Plan. ipal levels. If an now exists — you Should the bylaws application was be adopted at the can start tomorrow with made on agriculnext RDEK board tural land it would the application process. of directors meetbe permitted,” ing, growers in resi- The amendments have said planning and dential areas would been permitted at the technical specialnot be permitted to senior municipal levels. ist, Tracy Vanderapply for a permit; TRACY VANDERWHEELE wheele. however, there are RDEK PLANNING/TECHNICAL SPECIALIST Concerned agrino restrictions on culturists voiced growing in the approved agricultural opinions about the presence of mariand industrial zoned areas, provided juana on farmland. The existing RR1 the would-be medical marijuana grow- zoning bylaw states that medical mari-
VJ (Butch) Bishop Owner/Operator 4846 Holland Creek Ridge Rd. Invermere, BC V0A 1K0
juana would not be permitted because of its conflicting nature with a residential aspect of an existing bylaw. “Even though the RR1 zoning bylaw exists, ALR takes precedent,” said Ms. Vanderwheele, adding that, legally speaking, it is clear that marijuana farming is a viable option and the choice to grow it is up to the discretion of the land owners. “The RDEK is making more of a recommendation, with each individual deciding what approach to take,” she said. Touted benefits to the approval of the bylaws included a reduction in criminal behaviour associated with illegal hydroponics and marijuana trafficking. “There’s a lower probability of illegal use of it, after it’s been approved. Only use of industrial and ALR land will be permitted — we can’t prevent people from farming it,” said Ms. Vanderwheele.
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