City of Powell River planning staff has recommended modification of the separation distances stipulated for cannabis stores to make more commercial space available for the stores in the Westview area.
Currently, in the Marine Avenue corridor, there is a 150-metre separation stipulated between cannabis stores in the city’s zoning bylaw. In the rest of the community, there are 300 metres of separation stipulated between stores, as well as between parks, playgrounds and recreation centres.
At the Tuesday, March 19, city committee of the whole meeting, senior planner Daniella Fergusson said overall, the cannabis retail store process is working well.
“We’ve made some tweaks along the way,” she said. “Our first applicant has come forward, a BC Cannabis Store, and we’ve got another one in the pipeline.”
However, she outlined the need to relax the separation zones in some parts of the city.
Fergusson said the purpose of her report to the committee was to tweak the city’s zoning bylaw for separation distances. As applications are processed, it has been brought to the city’s attention that there are a few issues with the allowed separation distances, according to Fergusson.
Under the current zoning bylaw, the separation distances are measured from property lines. So, for example, Willingdon Beach park’s property line is close to the Marine Avenue commercial area and infringes on commercial space.
“We don’t think this was your intent,” said Fergusson. “So, the proposal is to change the separation distance to 150 metres.” Under the current bylaw, the Willingdon Beach park designation would necessitate a 300-metre separation for the closest cannabis store.
Another place the 300-metre separation infringes on commercial properties is adjacent to Powell River Recreation Complex. Taken from the property line, the 300-metre radius comes almost to Alberni Street, disqualifying most of Crossroads Village Shopping Centre as cannabis retail space. Ferguson said the 150-metre separation distance makes much more commercial space available.
The location of the BC Cannabis Store in Town Centre Mall would also exclude a lot of commercial space for cannabis retail stores with a 300-metre separation distance.
Fergusson also pointed to the locations of École Côte du Soleil, the French language school, and Assumption School, and the effects a 300-metre separation zone would have on commercial space availability for cannabis retail. There are pockets of commercial area where cannabis retail could be permitted in the area with 150 metres of separation.
Fergusson said that from a planning staff perspective, the reduction of distances of separation would bring the matter closer in line with city council’s intent and that’s why the zoning bylaw change is being recommended.
Councillor Jim Palm, chair of the committee of the whole, said that looking at other small communities in BC, they have reduced their separation distances to 200 metres.
“With our small community, going to 150 metres makes a lot of sense,” said Palm.
Committee of the whole is sending the matter to city council for consideration.
