Council has opened the door for a marijuana production facility to come to the Town of Penetanguishene.

A bylaw, which will rezone land in the town’s industrial core in order to permit a marijuana production facility, was approved by council during a June 14 meeting.

“As the mayor of the community I will stand tall on this recommendation knowing full well that I did my due diligence and really understand what was going on. We asked the tough questions, took a tour and I made sure I fully understood what I was supporting,” said Mayor Gerry Marshall, who took multiple tours of the Peace Naturals facility in Clearview Township.

Residents in the community voiced their concern over the possibility of a pot-producing facility being located in town at a May 24 public meeting. Many who voiced their opinion were concerned over the possibility of the facility being located to close to a school.

A large section of land between Dufferin Street, Robert Street East, Fuller Avenue and Robilard Drive, is where the facility can be located.

Ecole Saint-Louis Catholic Elementary sits off Dufferin Street, across from the northwest corner this parcel of land.

Andrea Betty, director of planning and community development for the town, recommended the bylaw state that a marijuana processing facility not be permitted within 150 metres of a school. This was the average distance other municipalities settled on when passing bylaws regarding pot producing facilities.

Many on council were not happy with this distance, believing the public would feel more at ease with a larger radius.

“I feel as a representative of the Town of Penetanguishene, I want to be better than average,” said Coun. Mike Lauder. “I want to show our residents that we are respecting their comments that came forward, so I think (we should) increase a reasonable 150 metres to a 300 metre radius from any school.”

Coun. Brad Saunders originally proposed to increase the 150-metre radius to 1,000 metres, but that would have eliminated their entire industrial parcel identified in the bylaw.