Proposed cannabis facility denied zoning change by council

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Woodstock city council denied an application for a zoning change that would have allowed a cannabis production facility to open in the city’s east  end.

Citing a lack of information from the applicant and concerns about the facility’s potential impact on nearby businesses, councillors rejected the request from Dillege Properties Ltd. to change the zoning for 201 Bysham Park Dr.

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Coun. Ron Fraser said he was concerned about the lack of information from the company and the proximity of nearby homes and businesses to the site.

He pointed out when Willow Cultivation made a presentation to council last year for a similar facility, it included engineering schematics for their ventilation system and information on security. The company also worked with staff to choose the best location, he said.

“I was quite satisfied with theirs. We have received next to no information on the pharmaceutical purpose on this property, I can’t see it be approved at this time.”

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Council denied Willow’s request for a zoning amendment for its original proposed location, but the company worked with city staff to find another location on Griffin Way and Devonshire Avenue in the northeast end of the city.

Dillege Properties proposed a 460-square-metre facility at the Bysham Park Drive site to grow and process cannabis. The plant would have a total floor space of 200 square metres, with the rest of the space being for offices, storage and equipment, a staff report said.

Brian Innes, the owner of ResQtech at 189 Bysham Park Dr., said he was worried about security, odour and air pollution if the cannabis operation was allowed to open.

With customers on both sides of the Canadian and American border, Innes expressed uneasiness about the potential effect on his business.

“It may cause issues of shipping our product into the United States. … Any infraction can see ResQtech being denied entry and cripple our business.”

Innes noted the company has been in Woodstock since the 1980s and was one of the first businesses in the Bysham Park business park.

Duane Wallet, president of Al’s Truck and Tractor Repair at 204 Bysham Park Dr., said he has concerns about potential security, odour and possible loss of business if the cannabis facility gets the green light.

He told council he hadn’t received an answer from the tenant to discuss what type of ventilation would be used and the type of security it planned.

The applicant didn’t appear at either the council or public planning meeting.

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Dilegge purchased the 0.8 hectare site in June 2019 from the city for $230,000.

It was given site plan approval for a 740-square-metre that was intended for Copper Wire Stripper, a company that assembles and distributes wire-stripping equipment.

Willow will be the second cannabis production company in Woodstock when its facility is opened.

Ontario Marijuana Growers opened the city’s first facility in the former Thomas bus factory on Tecumseh Street.

Coun. Sandra Talbot suggested cannabis facilities might be more suited to agricultural areas rather than near industrial, commercial or residential spaces.

“It seems to be we have a lot of people knocking on our door in this industry and I’d hate to lose our title of the dairy capital of Canada to be the cannabis capital of Canada.”