Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Marijuana is HERE in Rural King County and in YOUR neighborhood!

Marijuana Producing and Processing has come to Rural King County and is allowed in YOUR residential neighborhood! 

With the passing of I-502, King County is allowing marijuana production and processing in the Rural Area zones. With a minimum parcel size of 4.5 acres, a Tier 3 Producer and Processor can put up to 30,000 square feet of outdoor grow, requiring fences, employee parking lots, commercial trucks and deliveries, security cameras, etc. With just an additional permit, they can convert that to indoor grow - MEANING GREENHOUSES - with their lights, fans, fertilizers, pesticides, etc. The harvest of the plant, processing, drying, packaging, also occurs on the property, which means warehouses, armed security presence, surveillance systems, etc.   

Does this commercial activity belong in a residential neighborhood, with no services or infrastructure to support the impacts of industrialization? 

NO! 

King County has less restrictions for marijuana producers and processors than a home industry, yet it's a commercial and industrial business that completely alters the nature and character of the rural zone!  


How is that responsible zoning?  

So where is the burden of this commercial activity placed? On the residents and on the surrounding communities! 

Placing these industrial businesses within an area zoned for rural residential use creates a public nuisance, lowers property values, and increases crime. The impacts to the economic value of the neighboring properties is affected by increased traffic, increased criminal activity including trespassing, theft, and physical violence. These types of businesses diminish the public health, safety, and welfare of the residential area and destroy the character of the rural zone. 

Don't think it will happen to you in your little neighborhood?? The law is VERY FLUID at the moment and with other counties banning it outright, growers and producers are looking to get permitted in King County as quickly as possible so they'll be vested in spite of changes in law.  

NOW is the time to act! Tell King County to BAN Marijuana Production and Marijuana Processing from Rural Residential zones. Email your Council Member today! 

District 1 - Rod Dembowski - rod.dembowski@kingcounty.gov

District 2 - Larry Gossett - larry.gossett@kingcounty.gov
District 3 - Kathy Lambert - kathy.lambert@kingcounty.gov
District 4 - Jeanne Kohl-Welles - jeanne.kohl-welles@kingcounty.gov
District 5 - Dave Upthegrove - Dave.Upthegrove@kingcounty.gov
District 6 - Claudia Balducci - claudia.balducci@kingcounty.gov
District 7 - Pete von Reichbauer - pete.vonreichbauer@kingcounty.gov
District 8 - Joe McDermott - joe.mcdermott@kingcounty.gov
District 9 - Reagan Dunn - reagan.dunn@kingcounty.gov


Not sure who your Council Member is? Find them HERE