Stop pot in Rural Residential

Posted

We are writing about the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners allowing the location of industrial marijuana facilities in rural residential areas. Marrowstone Islanders recently faced this issue when a 10,000 plus square foot greenhouse was proposed near Ft. Flagler. The County approved this application, causing a two-year, $50,000 battle resulting in the application being twice denied in two administrative hearings. Islanders spent many hours of research and preparation to defeat the proposal. Nobody living in the County rural residential areas should experience what we did.

Impact of marijuana facilities result in:

1. Decrease in value and difficulty selling neighboring properties

2.  Major increase in noise levels from large exhaust fans

3. Extremely noxious smells

4. Potential for pollution of water sources

5. Prison like fencing, cameras, and lighting

We are not opposed to marijuana facilities but we have requested a change to the Jefferson County Code to prohibit marijuana facilities in rural residential zones. They would continue to be allowed in agricultural, rural industrial, urban industrial, and forest resource zones - the zones which comprise the majority of land in the County. The Commissioners have received a petition signed by over 325 people and over 160 people attended the administrative hearings expressing their opposition to the facility. Commissioners have indicated they would like to hear from other concerned non-island residents of Jefferson County. We are asking all residents who are concerned about a marijuana facility near their homes to let the Commissioners know by signing a petition. Just type in your browser: GoPetition. Insert: StopPotinRR in the search bar.  Up pops the petition. It’s easy. Let’s tell our Commissioners we want to keep our homes and families protected from large industrial marijuana facilities.

Carol Gonnella
Concerned Citizens for Healthy Neighborhoods
NORDLAND