GROW OP READY IN NORTH SAANICH

Wayward landowners beware, North Saanich is ready for potential
marijuana grow operations.

A bylaw to recover fees in the event any property is caught up in
manufacturing or growing a controlled substance is discovered in the
district covers a schedule of hourly rates from police and fire
services to municipal equipment and vehicles.

"The gist of this bylaw is very important for the owners of property
to become aware that his is what we're doing," said councillor Peter
Chandler. "The consequences of not being aware of it could be
significant."

The bylaw is focussed on cost recovery because of challenges to
similar bylaws on the Lower Mainland that included regulatory and
procedural items.

"There's a cost to the community when there is a grow op," said Rob
Buchan, chief administrative officer for the district. "The notion
behind this bylaw is twofold. If there is a grow operation that is
discovered and if the municipality has to become involved ... we're able
to recover our costs. And the other side of that particular coin is
that there is a disincentive for people to not property monitor their
rental proeproties. This is encouraged by our local RCMP."

The bylaw saw support around the council table.

"It protects the community in two ways," said councillor Cairine
Green. "It protects taxpayers if there are huge costs related to
remediation of a property and the area around it once a grow op is
discovered and the second thing it does is it secures and safeguards
the neighbourhood ... I think the more straight forward it is, the
better it is."

The bylaw passed first three readings.