By Alex McCuaig

Greenhouse proposal

Controversial greenhouse proposal in Cypress County withdrawn

Jan 25, 2020 | 5:44 PM

Medicine Hat, AB – A public hearing on a controversial greenhouse proposal scheduled for next month has been cancelled after the proponent withdrew their application, CHAT News has learned.

The proposal by Redcliff-based Reuben’s Veggies to rezone a property on Hwy. 523 to allow for an artificially-lit, 10-acre greenhouse drew the ire of a number of 50 or so residents of nearby county residential sub-divisions.

Opposition to the proposal was such that Cypress County councillors decided during their Dec. 3 meeting to schedule a public hearing on the matter on Feb. 4.

That hearing has now been cancelled after Reuben’s pulled that application, according to affected resident Craig Elder.

“The issue was with the concentration of residences that are out there now, it was an issue – twofold – of suitability – is it a suitable place to put a greenhouse now that there is 60 people who have properties there,” said Elder. “And the impact that a lighted greenhouse can have in light of what we see with Marble Farms and some of the others that have lights.”

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Elder added that with Redcliff, Medicine Hat and the Cypress County currently discussing a greenhouse corridor as part of their Inter-municipality Development Plan (IDP), consideration should be given to placing this proposal within that area.

“All of us are out there accepting agriculture. But, of course, we’re out there prior to this which is intensive agriculture – it’s different than traditional,” said Elder.

Public consultations on the IDP by members of the public are expected conducted sometime in the upcoming weeks.