Zoning changes to allow larger footprint for cannabis cultivation in RDNO

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Pot growers are welcome to build in the rural Lumby area.

“If someone wants to invest in my community, I wanted to make sure there was a level playing field,” explains Rick Fairbairn, RDNO Area D director, when asked why he recommended a change that would allow for up to 20,000 square feet of agricultural cannabis production in the village.

“Licensed (cannabis growing) facilities are going to go somewhere,” Fairbairn says, adding there are “more opportunities to supply legal outlets” after recent changes in federal regulations.

Fairbairn says “there have been a number of inquiries by interested parties.”

However, previous zoning restricted marijuana cultivation to 5,000 square feet.

“It doesn’t really matter if it’s a hog barn, a chicken barn, a dairy barn, or a cannabis barn,” says Fairbairn.

He says he he doesn't want anything to restrict future development in the area.