By Jill Bellefontaine
#HashTag Glasshouse Inc’s plans to return to Nova Scotia to hold a second community meeting regarding their plan to implement a Cannabis Production Facility in Pleasant Harbour have been delayed. The companies COO, Chris Taylor told the Cooperator “All I can tell you right now is that any meetings will be delayed as we have been dealing with some significant Land use bylaw changes in the tables by the HRM.”
According to District 2 Councillor David Hendsbee, “It is my understanding that their application was not complete nor received in time before the Public Notice Advertisement of the proposed HRM Regional Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS) Amendments and various Local Land-use Bylaws that appeared in the newspaper on Saturday, August 18, 2018.”
Although Hashtag had already been granted a Development Permit for their piece of land at 16471 Hwy 7 in Pleasant Harbour, they had not yet been granted a Building/Construction Permit.
HRM staff are currently reviewing all information that was received from #HashTag Glasshouse, as well as checking in with the Nova Scotia Department of Environment regarding their respective permit.
Hendsbee believes “our Municipal Charter is quite clear that any development application must be complete and submitted in full before any proposed MPS amendments are advertised. It could be argued that HRM notice of intent to make these amendments was publicly known back on July 31/18 when these MPS amendments were first introduced. But our official Notice wasn’t Advertised until August 18th for Public Hearing Date of September 18th.”
HRM staff are also looking into whether or not there is any possibility for #Hashtag to apply for a variance/appeal with this specific case, or if the new proposed guidelines apply to Hashtag if passed by HRM Regional Council and confirmed by the Nova Scotia Minister of Municipal Affairs.