City of Powell River Committee of the Whole learned on Tuesday, November 13, that the city had received its first cannabis retail store application.
The location for the BC Cannabis outlet would be in the Town Centre Mall area at 7035 Barnet Street, in the building with RBC Securities and Panago Pizza, with ample parking behind Town Centre Hotel, according to senior city planner Daniella Fergusson.
The application was made by BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB), the wholesale distributor of non-medical cannabis for the province that operates standalone Cannabis BC public retail stores.
“I want to point out that the BC Liquor Distribution Branch does not have to follow the process that we set up because they are the government, so it regulates itself in that way,” said Fergusson. “They are voluntarily following it in our first test case for our new process for cannabis retail use.”
Under new bylaws, the province will typically refer applications to the city to do a planning review, then a written report comes before committee of the whole, according to Fergusson.
“This committee may say, ‘great, let's go forward to get some public input on this application,’ or say, ‘no,’” said Fergusson.
The LBD application has met the right zoning and separation distance requirements, fulfilling one of the city’s policy goals of trying to ensure cannabis stays out of the hands of minors.
The 2,200-square-foot outlet would have frosted windows, 10 full-time union staff and security measures, including identification checks.
Hours of operation would be 10 am to 10 pm.
