Prince George could see three more cannabis stores in the city, depending on the results of tonight’s (Oct. 4) city council meeting.
Council will conduct public hearings for three rezoning applications for cannabis shops, although administration is in support of all three locations there are several letters of opposition to each of them.
The first is Cariboo Cannabis, which should it be approved would be located at 100 Tabor Blvd. in the Tabor Plaza; there are three letters submitted in opposition to this application and two in support.
The two documents in support come from Tabor Plaza neighbours Nechako Learning Centre and Afterglo; one of the letters in opposition also comes from another neighbour in the Plaza.
“Frankly, I do not want a recreational cannabis store located in the same plaza my dental practice is located in. We already have a liquor store located next door. Adding a cannabis shop is just too much,” writes Dr. Terah M. Albertson.
Steven Burke, Chairman of the nearby Zion Lutheran Christian School also wrote a letter in opposition.
“The school/church property and the subject retail property are immediately adjacent to each other. The mall complex and the school/church building are no more than 21 meters apart and the cannabis retail facility within the mall complex will be located within 100 meters from our school,” writes Burke.
“Even though these facilities are now legal we feel there is still a negative connotation for the use of cannabis which could pose a potential negative impact on our school registration given the proximity of the retail cannabis store.”
The third letter opposition letter comes from Ryan and Amanda Yorston who say they’ve lived in the area for 31 years, and say they are against a cannabis shop in an area with surrounding schools, bus routes and playgrounds.
The second cannabis shop to be considered is Earth to Sky Cannabis Company and if approved would be located at 1533 3 Ave, which has elicited a letter of concern from the nearby UHNBC Auxiliary thrift store.
“Parking has always been an issue in this area with both our customers and those donating to the store finding it almost impossible to park,” writes Auxiliary President Lindy Steele. “The smell of cannabis is very distinctive and could become an issue in our shop.”
The third cannabis shop applicant is the Liquor Distribution Branch who want to open a B.C. Cannabis Store in Spruceland Shopping Centre.
Two letters were sent in opposition to the Spruceland store, both from concerned residents of the surrounding neighbourhood.
“Each time the city has rezoned in the Spruceland Commercial Corridor from Fifth Avenue to 15 Avenue no offsets or improvements to my neighborhood have resulted,” writes Wendy Girard. “The city develops, then ignores the resulting state in which we are left to live.”
Another neighbour Nancy Murphy, wrote that she was adamantly opposed to the rezoning citing proximity to the bus stop and high crime in the area.
Council meets at 6 p.m. at City Hall with the formal public hearings starting at 7 p.m.
You can also read through the full agenda online for more information.
