FVRD moving forward with regulations around cannabis land use, production

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In 2021, a survey was carried out among electoral area residents, businesses and cannabis industry groups to solicit feedback on cannabis regulation. Of the respondents, 82 per cent lived or owned properties in an electoral area. The survey highlighted several key concerns, including odour, light pollution, environmental impact, crime and safety, increased traffic, declining property values, conversion of homes into production facilities, avoiding residential areas, dealing with illegal operations, favouring small-scale production in the Chilliwack River Valley, promoting grower responsibility, and treating cannabis production like other agricultural products, and expediting the implementation of legalized activities.

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The FVRD board gave first reading to FVRD zoning amendment bylaw 1723, 2023 at its meeting on November 23, 2023. With the ratification of a consolidated zoning bylaw, regional district staff say they’re poised to move forward with the implementation of phase two of the Land Use Policy for Cannabis Production, Processing and Retail Sales in the Electoral Areas. This phase delves into implementing the unresolved components of the policy including introducing enabling regulations for electoral areas to support cannabis-related land uses.

Based on the information and knowledge that FVRD staff have learned about cannabis over the past couple years, staff are recommending the implementation of regulations for two different types of cannabis facilities based on Health Canada license types.

1. Micro Cannabis Production Facility

• Small-scale commercial growing, cultivating, germinating, producing, storing, warehousing, packaging or wholesale distribution of cannabis or cannabis products as authorized under the Cannabis Act. Consistent with Health Canada Micro-cultivation Licenses.
• Would be permitted in all zones and electoral areas where a Cannabis Production Facility is currently permitted.

The proposed FVRD regulations for micro cannabis production facilities include:

• Allowed in agricultural and rural zones
• Minimum parcel size of 4 ha (10 acres)
• Maximum building gross floor area of 600 square metres
• Screening requirements
• Setbacks (same as livestock buildings)

2. Standard Cannabis Production Facility

• Large-scale commercial growing, cultivating, germinating, producing, storing, warehousing, packaging or wholesale distribution of cannabis or cannabis products as authorized under the Cannabis Act.
• Facilities often range from 2,000 square metres to 200,000 square metres

FVRD is proposing the following parameters for standard cannabis production facilities:

• Allowed only in Industrial Zones (General Industrial, Heavy Industrial, Resource Industrial 1)
• Setbacks and screening (are already laid out in zones for industrial uses)