Council gives stamp of approval for pot shops

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The city said a total of seven responses were received on the application: one “no objection”, five negative responses and one letter of support. A petition was also signed with 68 participants.

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” It is right around the corner of House of Dwarves which has been plagued with drug activity, and I’m not equating the drug activity with marijuana or cannabis, ” said Coun. Scott Anderson who voted against the project stating that it is a “bridge too far.”

Coun. Anderson says he will not be supporting the cannabis application on 53rd avenue located near House of Dwarfs daycare facility #vernonbc #cannabis pic.twitter.com/J3cf4AqWjC

— Tiffany Goodwein (@CityNewsTiffany) March 26, 2019

Coun. Gares argued that while the proposed store is located by a daycare facility , the daycare is also near a craft distillery.

” We’ve got the House of Dwarves but immediately across is Okanangan Spirits, which is right accross so I’m trying to weigh this, I am getting stuck on the close proximity to the daycare , all other things aside I don’t really have an issue with,” said Gares .

Coun. Nahal said that the cannabis retail store should have little impact on the kids if all the rules and regulations are followed.

” I don’t have a problem with the daycare, I’m going to drop a joke but the kids will require ID if they go in there, just kidding,” she said.

The application also became the center of drama following allegations that council was somehow being swayed by a person involved with the site

Coun. Scott Anderson cleared the air and denied the allegations.

” There has been some allegations made against some council members that we have been influenced, or one of us have been influenced and some number of us have been influenced by an individual , I am declaring that I don’t know the individual and he certainly isn’t influencing my vote on this one.”

Councillor Quiring , Fehr, Gares, Nahal, and Mayor Victor Cumming quickly followed suit.

Parking spots were also an issue with many wondering if the proposed stores have enough parking spaces to sustain their business and their neighbors .

” That parking lot I’ve observed many times is overstuffed already” said Mayor Victor Cummings on the application located on 53 avenue.

” It is a problem but it doesn’t stop our consumers from figuring out how to get there,”  said Coun. Gares

The concentration of businesses in the downtown core was another hot topic, with Coun. Scott Anderson wondering if a measure could be put in place to make sure that the pot shops are not operating right next to each other.

Coun. Fehr agreed.

” I would agree with Councillor Anderson, I don’t know what it is but I do think we need to look into that,” said Fehr.

Three out of the seven cannabis applications before the city are located in the downtown area which also houses some pot shops operating illegally.

In letters of concern to the city, a few business owners said that they are worried about how the number of pot shops could impact the vibrancy of the area.

” I’m not sure what to do about it because if we say no to one we have to say no to all of them to be fair,” said Coun. Anderson.

The concentration of pot shops in the city’s downtown core will be discussed at another council meeting.

The fate of the seven pot shop applications now lies in the hands of the provincial Liquor and Cannabis regulation branch.