For a second time, an attempt to convince city council to allow a cannabis store to open across from a downtown social agency that works with vulnerable youth has failed.
Nasser Kamani had been seeking to change councillors' minds on his proposal to open a store in the old Plateau Clothing shop at 1289 Third Ave.
In answer to a rejection issued in April, Kamani proposed Monday to limit the store's hours to times when the school at Intersect Youth and Family Services is closed.
But the idea failed to win council's support, in part because Intersect will still be in use outside of school hours.
Largely over concerns about proper process, council also turned down a suggestion by Kamani to grant him a temporary use permit for six months to find a new location before the licence he has secured from the provincial government expires. If granted, it would have come with the proviso that he not use the licence to operate at the Third Avenue spot.
The outcome capped a marathon public hearing that was essentially a replay of the April public hearing in which significant opposition to the idea was expressed, largely over the impression it would leave on the minds of youths attending Intersect.
Council did vote in favour Monday of granting a temporary use permit open a privately-run cannabis store in a spot next to Princess Auto at 3320 Massey Drive although there was some concern about its proximity to a provincially-run store planned for Pine Centre Mall
Council does have a policy of limiting distances between stores to 1.6 kilometres but it is considered a "soft rule" and it was noted that the stores will be separated by a four-lane arterial road.
