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Greenhouse grievence

Proposed greenhouse pitting resident’s quality of life against business expansion

Dec 5, 2019 | 4:55 PM

Cypress County, AB – A proposed greenhouse in Cypress County is pitting an expanding greenhouse industry against what residents in a nearby rural sub-division believe is an infringement on their quality of life.

The rezoning would cover a 52 hectare area, changing it from general agriculture to greenhouse with the applicant, Reuben’s Veggies, proposing to build a 10-acre, artificially lit building along with an accompanying warehouse.

Cypress County received correspondence from 20 residents in the area of the proposed greenhouse located on Holsom Road and Range Road 72.

Resident Jamie Taylor said the lighting is one of the biggest concerns and fears his families enjoyment of his home will be adversely affected by excessive brightness coming from the proposed greenhouse.

But it’s not his only concern.

“There’s lots of issues around it as far as waste disposal and everybody is concerned about their property values,” said Taylor. “And that’s obviously, a big thing for a lot of us because we moved out there and built beautiful houses and properties and developed them over time.”

Cypress County Reeve Dan Hamilton said no final decision has been made and councillors will be examining the information presented at Tuesday’s council meeting in detail.

“We’re just trying to digest it all,” said Hamilton. “So, we’ve taken the next two weeks to digest it all and come up with our own conclusions on what we want to vote individually and see where it goes from there.”

CHAT contact Reuben’s Veggies for comment who declined at this time.

The matter will be on the agenda for Cypress County’s next council meeting on Dec. 17.