King County is allowing industrial marijuana producing and marijuana processing in residential neighborhoods in the Rural Zone, without any regulations or rules in place to protect the residents from the negative impacts of an industrial and commercial activity.
Why is this a problem?
For the same reasons you wouldn't put a marijuana producing and processing plant in a residential neighborhood in Bellevue, it does not belong in a residential neighborhood in a Rural Zone.
Rural Zones operate with even less services and infrastructure available to them than a municipality, such as law enforcement, chemical waste management, public parking lots, paved 2-lane access. Marijuana operations belong in a proper zone that can support these types of industrial needs, not a residential community with homes and families.
Isn't the Rural Zone just a bunch of cow pastures?
No. "Rural Zone" doesn't mean "uninhabited". There are homes, communities, families, parks, and trails, among other things in the Rural Zone. King County zoned specific sections of land to preserve and protect the County's beautiful open spaces. Only businesses that are "compatible with the rural character" are allowed, with stringent rules on what you can do out of your home or on your property.
Then why are they allowing marijuana industrial activity in the Rural Zone if it is obviously not "compatible with the rural character" of the zone?
Initiative 502 (the Cannabis law voted in by the people) passed and the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) transferred the burden of implementation to each County in the state, with little to no guidance. King County chose to add "Marijuana" to Title 21A, calling it a "Resource Land Use".
So doesn't that mean it's something like farming a crop and needs a bunch of land to grow?
No. Marijuana is not considered "agriculture" by the WSLCB. King County says it is NOT Farming, nor Home Occupation, nor Home Industry, but allows it under Title 21A as a "Resource Land Use", KCC 21A.08.090. Yet it is also allowed in Commercial, or Regional Business zones where there is no land.
So does it need the land or doesn't it?
Marijuana production and processing does not necessarily require dirt, or land, or the nutrients from the soil. It is successfully grown in greenhouses, on tables in pots, where the climate and environment can be controlled with lights, heat, fans and with the use of pesticides, chemicals, fungicides, and fertilizers. A Tier3 producer first applies for a 30,000 square foot "outdoor grow" area, and once approved, they can change that to commercial grow houses that are more efficient and produce better yield.
Look around and notice that there is an entire industry devoted to Ready-To-Grow 52-foot portable grow-trailers that can be delivered and placed on a property and all it needs is a water hose and electrical.
Outdoor grows are harder to manage, require the same pesticides, produce the same odor that cannot be contained or filtered, produce the same chemical waste that can impact waterways and the environment, require employees, monitoring, fences, security cameras, security presence, and, as stated by the WSLCB checklist, can be an "attractive nuisance".
Outdoor grows are harder to manage, require the same pesticides, produce the same odor that cannot be contained or filtered, produce the same chemical waste that can impact waterways and the environment, require employees, monitoring, fences, security cameras, security presence, and, as stated by the WSLCB checklist, can be an "attractive nuisance".
So what are some of the negative impacts from marijuana producing and processing?
- Decreased property value (do YOU want to buy a home next to a marijuana warehouse?)
- Increased crime, including home invasion, theft, robberies, and physical assault
- Offensive, penetrating and unhealthy odor for sustained periods of time, permeating your home, car, clothing
- Noise pollution
- Light pollution
- Unrestricted 24x7 industrial activity
- Chemical, pesticide, fertilizer contamination
Chelan County experienced the negative impacts to the point that they BANNED it outright in their county JUST RECENTLY on 2/16/16. It was not a case of "we think there might be crime and noise and odor" but rather "THERE IS CRIME, NOISE, ODOR, ETC. AND THIS INDUSTRY OVERWHELMINGLY IMPACTED THE RURAL RESIDENTS" to the point that they signed the ban into law even before the period of the original moratorium was over. (see post for Chelan County on this site)
How many of these operations can be set up in King County?
No known limits. Licenses continue to be issued by WSLCB. As other counties across the state BAN it outright, applicants are looking to come to King County as it is considered "permit-friendly".
There are 100's if not 1000's of licenses across the state, waiting in the wings, for sale on the market, etc. all looking for a place to set up.
Well if someone tried to set one of these up next to me, they'd at least have to put up a public notice sign so I'd know, right?
WRONG. Anything less than 20,000 square feet (Tier1 and Tier2) doesn't require public notice. By the time you find out it's there, it's already too late.
Signage for a Tier3 isn't standard either and the County is only required to post something in a local paper. But again, by the time you see it in the paper, if you spend your free time reading the public notices, it's too late and the permit is pretty much a done deal.
Well if someone tried to set one of these up next to me, they'd at least have to put up a public notice sign so I'd know, right?
WRONG. Anything less than 20,000 square feet (Tier1 and Tier2) doesn't require public notice. By the time you find out it's there, it's already too late.
Signage for a Tier3 isn't standard either and the County is only required to post something in a local paper. But again, by the time you see it in the paper, if you spend your free time reading the public notices, it's too late and the permit is pretty much a done deal.
I live in a rural neighborhood with covenants, so I'll be ok.
No you won't. King County does not consider covenants in the permit process.
You will have to hire a lawyer, on your dime, to sue the applicant and enforce your covenants. You will be out your $$ whether it is fair or not.
I live in the city, why should I care?
Preserving King County's rural areas should be a concern for us all:
- Do you recreate in the rural areas? Visit the parks, ride your bikes on the trail?
- Do you drive "out to the country" at Christmas to cut a tree at one of the available tree farms?
- Do you take your kids to riding lessons at the riding stable?
- Do you drive "out to the country" at Christmas to cut a tree at one of the available tree farms?
- Do you take your kids to riding lessons at the riding stable?
- Do you attend livestock events like County Fairs?
- Do you enjoy the territorial view as you drive through rural King County on your way skiing or hiking?
- Do you drop your kayak in at the creek and enjoy our waterways?
- Do you bring your kids to pumpkin patches or corn mazes?
- Do you shop the rural Farmers markets in the summer?
- Do you pick blueberries at the U-pick farms in our rural areas?
- Do you trail ride your horse along the wonderful trail systems available in our rural areas?
- Do you enjoy the territorial view as you drive through rural King County on your way skiing or hiking?
- Do you drop your kayak in at the creek and enjoy our waterways?
- Do you bring your kids to pumpkin patches or corn mazes?
- Do you shop the rural Farmers markets in the summer?
- Do you pick blueberries at the U-pick farms in our rural areas?
- Do you trail ride your horse along the wonderful trail systems available in our rural areas?
Now imagine enjoying those same activities next to industrial greenhouses, outbuildings, parking lots, port-a-potties, security fences, and surveillance systems.
I live in a different County, why should I care?
Perhaps the reasons above apply, as you may find yourself enjoying the rural areas of King County as you travel or recreate.
The fact remains that marijuana commercial activity does not belong in ANY residential neighborhood in ANY county of the state. All government agencies that are charged with preserving the health, safety, and welfare of it's residents need to be held accountable to create rules and regulations that protect homes and families.
Your voice, regardless of where it comes from, greatly aids in telling King County that it is unacceptable to burden the rural residents with the negative impacts from unregulated commercial industry.
I live in a different County, why should I care?
Perhaps the reasons above apply, as you may find yourself enjoying the rural areas of King County as you travel or recreate.
The fact remains that marijuana commercial activity does not belong in ANY residential neighborhood in ANY county of the state. All government agencies that are charged with preserving the health, safety, and welfare of it's residents need to be held accountable to create rules and regulations that protect homes and families.
Your voice, regardless of where it comes from, greatly aids in telling King County that it is unacceptable to burden the rural residents with the negative impacts from unregulated commercial industry.
I was looking to buy my first home out in unincorporated King County, how will I know how this affects me? I don't see a pot farm around there now?
You'll never know because the licenses, applicants, and the law are so fluid. Buy your home in Snohomish County or somewhere else.
Wait, there's a moratorium now in King County, doesn't that mean they're "taking care of it"?
WRONG. During a moratorium it is especially critical that all of King County Council hear from you! They are reviewing and revising laws NOW and need to hear about your concerns. They will not just "go away and fix it".
If you don't participate in the process, you can't complain about the outcome.
Wait, there's a moratorium now in King County, doesn't that mean they're "taking care of it"?
WRONG. During a moratorium it is especially critical that all of King County Council hear from you! They are reviewing and revising laws NOW and need to hear about your concerns. They will not just "go away and fix it".
If you don't participate in the process, you can't complain about the outcome.
So what are you asking for?
YOU can be a voice and ask King County to BAN commercial and industrial marijuana producing and processing in the rural area zones.
Click on the "WHAT YOU NEED TO DO" tab on this blog for these ideas and more:
- EMAIL and CALL your Council person, even if you do not live "out in the country". This is a County issue, not a specific district issue.
- Sign the petition and add your comments
- Show up at Council meetings and other government meetings, YOUR PRESENCE COUNTS!
- WRITE your letters and mail them when it is required. Certain County activities require an actual letter, such as public comment periods.
- WATCH for DEADLINES and DUE DATES so that you can ensure your voice counts!