Kingsville council passes bylaw prohibiting greenhouse odour and light pollution

Kingsville town council voted unanimously Monday night to pass a bylaw to prohibit and regulate odours and lighting from greenhouses growing cannabis. The bylaw also controls light pollution from other greenhouse operations.

Council set aside $25,000to pay forenforcement costs and $10,000for overtime costs.

Bert Mucci,the CEO of MucciFarms, asked council to defer the decision to give Mucci Farmsand other greenhouse growers time to have input on the bylaw. Mucci Farms has been proactive in installing blackout curtains in 75 per cent of its greenhouse space.

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But council remained firm that the greenhouses have had ample time to make changes.

Coun. Larrry Patterson says residents have been frustrated with the smell and light pollution for too long.

"We've been hammered by our residents and we all totally support what our residents have asked of us," Patterson told council via a Zoom meeting.

"People have smelledClass 2marijuana operations as a nuisance long enough in this municipality.People have waited for a few years to have dark sky compliance," he said.

The bylaw comes into effect immediately, but town CEO John Norton says officers will havediscretion to issue warnings.

The maximum penalty for an individual breaking the bylaw is $5,000for a first offence and $10,000 for a subsequent offence. For corporations the maximum fines are $50,000for a first offence and$100,000for a subsequent offence.