A small majority of those responding to this week’s online poll said that Petaluma should not go forward with an ordinance regulating gardens, marijuana or otherwise, in an effort to prevent fires. About 56 percent believed the city should not move forward and about 41 percent believed the opposite.
About 2.5 percent weren’t sure.
Here were some of the comments.
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“Considering the amount of electricity these require and most being illegal hookups, they should all be banned unless at a bonafide commercial business. Far more dangerous than Safe and Sane fireworks.”
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“I know my next door neighbors are growing in their garage (next to my house). Probably not a huge grow operation (I’m sure they do some “causal” sales based on the activity at their house on a Friday night) but just looking at their house and yard, I can’t count on them to make sure their set up is safe and not a fire hazard to me. I hope an ordinance provides protection for neighbors from poorly operated grows.”
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“I think it is reasonable for zoning, use permits and building permits to have considerations for indoor, commercial-grade gardens – whether someone is growing lettuce, orchids or pot. I’d like to see anything beyond a “friends & family” scale be limited to mixed-use, commercial or agricultural zones.”
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“Can’t stand the stench of marijuana! It’s way out of control in Petaluma. I can’t be in my back yard for a few months out of the summer due to the nasty smell (that makes me sick). Something has got to be done about it and our law inforcement needs to stop looking the other way.”
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“There are several reasons to regulate this type of operation. Indoor grow operations often involve the theft of electricity from PG&E. Improper wiring is the most common cause of ignition in indoor grow operation- related fires. Single family dwelling fires kill and injure more firefighters annually than any other type of fire. Single family dwelling fires are not only a problem for the home owner who has rented out his house, but they are also a threat to the neighbors as well.”
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