BELCARRA TAKES STEPS TO WARD OFF POT GROW-OPS

Belcarra is trying to weed out cannabis cultivators in the village with a
new anti-pot farming bylaw.

If the bylaw is approved, the village will be the fourth Tri-City
municipality to enact regulations to stop marijuana grow-ops.

Though police have only dismantled three pot farms in Belcarra over the
past decade, Mayor Ralph Drew said council is trying to stay ahead of the
game and safeguard residents.

"The bylaw just broadens the tools that we have to deal with grow
operations, as opposed to the straight criminal law that we have," he said.

Under the proposed Grow Operation Health, Nuisance and Safety Bylaw, which
the council has given three readings, Belcarra residents must not
disconnect electricity, natural gas or water to the property for a grow-op.
They also must not divert or install exhaust vents, hot water tanks or
furnaces for such illegal operations.

As well, the homeowner or occupant must hire a professional cleaner - at
their cost - to disinfect the home from mould caused by and contaminants
used to grow pot, and the home cannot be re-occupied until it has been
remediated and the village has inspected it. Under the planned bylaw,
owners are also bound to inspect their rental homes at least every three
months.

Drew said Belcarra is now waiting for approval to implement the bylaw from
the B.C. government. When the city of Port Coquitlam introduced a similar
bylaw forcing homeowners to rehabilitate their properties, it took the
ministry of health more than a year to agree to the municipal rules.

According to the Fraser Institute, which released a study on marijuana in
June, there are more than 17,500 grow-ops around B.C. The average pot farm
yields around $20,000 every eight to 10 weeks or $120,000 a year.

Belcarra village council is also introducing a related bylaw that forces
homeowners to take care of their properties. The Good Neighbour bylaw bans
homeowners from causing a nuisance on their land. This means they must
remove "unsightly accumulation of discarded materials, rubbish of any kind
or graffiti;" prevent the infestation by noxious or destructive insects;
clear their land of brush, noxious weeks and grass above 30 centimetres
tall; and ensure outdoor lighting is shielded.