EVERETT — The Snohomish County council has passed an ordinance that bans pot-growing operations from opening shop in certain rural areas.

KING 5 News reports (http://kng5.tv/1El6B8R) that the county had allowed the growing operations in 2013, but after receiving complaints, the council voted for a moratorium on allowing the operations.

Some residents told the council that they feared their neighborhoods would change and property values could diminish if they operations moved in.

Snohomish County resident Dean Keppler said they wanted to preserve the character of the rural neighborhoods.

The county council voted 4-1 for the ban on Wednesday.