Council backs medical marijuana facility

RAY SPITERI

It’s the right time and place to support a medical marijuana facility in the Stanley Avenue Business Park, says Coun. Joyce Morocco.

Council unanimously approved a zoning bylaw amendment application for 6471 Kister Road to add a medical marijuana facility to the list of permitted uses on the property.

The applicant is Alexei Chinkarenko, who has a background in engineering.

“I’m really thrilled to see you have a security consultant,” said Coun. Carolynn Ioannoni.

Coun. Victor Pietrangelo said he finds the application “easily supportable” because of its location, because it’s not near any sensitive uses and because of the security measures that will be in place.

Rocco Vacca, a lawyer representing the applicant, told council during Tuesday night’s meeting this is his client’s first experience doing business in Niagara Falls and that it has been a “pleasure” to deal with the city’s planning and business departments.

“Marijuana for medical purposes is a proven medical treatment,” said Vacca, adding the facility will not cultivate marijuana, nor will it be a retail facility, but rather be a processing, extracting, capsuling and bottling facility.

A medical marijuana facility for the pharmaceutical extraction, capsuling and bottling of cannabis product is compatible with the types of uses anticipated under the industrial designation, said staff in a report that went before council and a public meeting Tuesday.

The subject land is located about 300 metres from the nearest sensitivelanduse.

Staff said the security requirements that form part of the necessary federal licensing for such a facility should address any security concerns that are raised.

The processing, packaging and shipping facility will be required to obtain a license under the Federal Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes regulations.

The rezoning is the first step in the process.

The land is occupied by a vacant 629- square-metre industrial building.

Staff said federal licensing will require fencing of the property and utilization of surveillance systems, among other security measures.

These requirements, said staff, will reduce the potential for criminal activity and help mitigate the impact of the facility on surrounding businesses.

The applicant and the applicant’s security consultant provided details of the measures required for the facility, including fencing, surveillance systems and access restrictions.

The applicant noted as there is no cultivation planned on site, emissions would be minimal and would be controlled by filters.

As there is no storefront planned, traffic to the site would be minimal and deliveries would be made via commercial couriers.

The applicant also noted the facility would result in the creation of 10 to 20 skilled positions.

Niagara Falls resident Clarke Bitter described the application as “great” as medical marijuana helps “a lot of people.”

He said the jobs that will be created will largely be “good-paying jobs.”

Bitter encouraged council to start considering how it will deal with the recreational marijuana market once it’s legalized by the federal government next year

In 2015, council passed a bylaw to add definitions of a medical marijuana facility and a sensitive land use.

The bylaw did not establish where such facilities would be allowed, but noted council will consider the proximity of such facilities to sensi- tive land uses when considering such zoning bylaw amendments.

Sensitive uses include residential uses, campgrounds, child-care facilities, schools and institutional uses, parks and playgrounds.

Council decided the matter should be considered on a site-by-site basis. rspiteri@postmedia.com