Despite opposition from Olds High School and Chinook's Edge School Division, an application to rezone three lots from Light Industrial to Direct Control 7 was given successful second and third readings at last week's town council meeting (May 23). Direct Control 7 District is specific to medical marijuana facility use and development.
The company, Olds Soft Gels, currently operates at 5807- 48th Ave., which is across the street and just south of Olds High School. The company is proposing to build greenhouses for the purpose of growing medical marijuana on vacant land in between its two current facilities, in order to produce cannabis oil soft gels.
There were no concerns brought forward from nine legal landowners in the area, however the high school and school board wrote letters to council, noting their strong opposition to the bylaw amendment.
Shawn Russell, associate superintendent for the school division, spoke in opposition at the public hearing noting that neither the school nor the board are opposed to the industry, but to the location, in close proximity to the high school.
ìThe nature of the product that's being produced and the amount of uncertainty now around rules and regulations,î said Russell afterward, ìwhen we look at the health and safety of students, and visible access to certain products, even though they may be legal, we want to do the best we can to try to avoid that.î
Mayor Judy Dahl noted that screening and fencing measures would be put in place, and that the building would be highly secure.
Russell countered that it wasn't the building at issue, but the product being produced, and said the school board would be equally opposed to a tobacco or alcohol company in the same location.
Larry Wright, strategy and technology officer for the Town of Olds, is also part of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association's Administrative Working Group on Marijuana Production, and spoke in favour of the bylaw amendment, noting their focus on the control of production facilities of marijuana in the future.
ìPart of what all of the groups in Alberta are concerned about is the security, the control, the inspection, the open transparency,î said Wright, "where it is in council's hands and deliberated in open council meetings."
Wright noted that Olds Soft Gels approached the town in 2016 with their proposal, which would bring in international investors and buyers from China, India and the Middle East. He said they have followed policy and procedures with the community, as well as met federal health requirements and laws.
ìThis is a business group that have been here for 30-plus years,î he said. ìThey have been good corporate citizens.î
On the high school and school board's opposition, Wright said he was surprised they hadn't come forward with their concerns before, given that Olds Soft Gels has already come before council on several occasions with their proposal.
"This is something we almost need to work on -- education, which is their venue, but it's also our responsibility,î said Wright.
ìWe are more than happy to work with Chinook's Edge if there are concerns in the community,î said Wright.
"When we look at the health and safety of students, and visible access to certain products, even though they may be legal, we want to do the best we can to try to avoid that."SHAWN RUSSELL ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT CHINOOK'S EDGE SCHOOL DIVISION
