Town of Osoyoos council voted Monday that it’s going to move towards “site specific” zoning for all business owners looking to open retail cannabis outlets in the community.

Council also directed staff to come up with a series of policy options that would include provisions from banning cannabis retail outlets near the community’s two schools and whether or not to allow them on the Town’s busy Main Street business corridor.

Under site specific zoning applications, a public hearing and public information sessions would have to be held related to each application, which would allow neighbours to provide comment and input supporting or opposing each application.

Gina MacKay, the town’s director of planning and development services, told Council Monday that she attended a forum late last week that clearly indicated Council must provide written detailed comments about each application to open a cannabis retail outlet before the provincial government will allow a business license to be issued.

Photo Credit: File PhotoTown of Osoyoos Council voted Monday in favour of a motion to consider site specific zoning for any business owner looking to open a cannabis retail outlet in that community. Council also approved a motion directing staff to include provisions like buffer zones away from schools in the final bylaw related to cannabis retail sales.

To date, the provincial government has indicated it plans to have its retail cannabis structure in place by the end of July with full implementation by Oct. 17, the day cannabis sales become legal across Canada, said MacKay.

So far, the provincial government has determined residents must be 19 and older and the government-run wholesale distribution modeal will be operated by the BC Liquor Distribution Branch, with licensing, compliance and enforcement to be done by the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch.

It’s up to each municipality to determine hours of operation, additional security requirement, capping the number of store and specifying zoning requirements.

In early July, Osoyoos Council became the first in B.C. to support the sale of cannabis retail outlets to private stores only and not support the opening of any government-run businesses. MacKay said no cannabis sales would be permitted until the zoning bylaw updates have been completed, inclusive of a public hearing process.

Photo Credit: File PhotoIn early July, Osoyoos Council was the first in B.C. to vote in favour of allowing cannabis retail outlets only by private business owners and prohibiting any government-run facilities. On Monday, Council voted in favour of a motion to use site-specific zoning when approving applications, meaning each applicant will have to go through a public hearing process.

Given the complexity of the issue, MacKay stated she felt it would be “prudent for Council to reconsider the site specific zoning option presented in the report of July 3. This option would allow Council to consider each individual site on its own merits.

“It would also allow for consideration of adjacent uses, parking provisions, access and egress from the site. Not that the provincial government has indicated that the municipality must be in support of the issuance of any license within the community. By utilizing the site-specific zoning, Council would be reviewing the licensing options concurrently wiht the rezoning proposal.”

Coun. C. J. Rhodes said he “changed his mind” after reading the staff report and is now strongly in favour of site-specific zoning for each application to open a cannabis retail outlet in Osoyoos.

The complexity of other zoning options “is beyond my comprehension” and reviewing each application on its own merits is the only reasonable option in his opinion, said Rhodes.

Osoyoos isn’t built in straight lines and has a major highway running through the centre of town and allowing or disallowing these cannabis shops to be allowed or rejected based on zoning maps doesn’t make any sense to him, he said.

“I believe site specific would work best,” he said.

Coun. Mike Campol said he strongly disagreed saying having defined areas where cannabis retail outlets can and can’t open would ensure potential business owners would come into the process knowing exactly where they should open their new business.

It would also ensure that none of these outlets are anywhere near schools or other designated areas such as parks, he said.

Photo Credit: File Photo

The amount of staff time and Council time related to cannabis retail outlets is going to be immense if the site-specific option is approved, he said.

Coun. Carol Youngberg and Mayor Sue McKortoff both supported Rhodes’ comments saying site specific zoning is the way to go as it will ensure cannabis retail outlets undergo careful scrutiny before approval is given.

Council can also implement provisions like not allowing them near schools as part of the final bylaw that will be adopted, said McKortoff.

“I think site specific … is a better way of dealing with things,” she said.

Campol pointed out there will be likely be new councillors at the council table as the provincial election takes place three days after cannabis is legalized in Canada and they may vote to change any policies the current Council puts in place.

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MacKay said that could well happen, but the current Council must move forward with forming policy before legalization takes place.

Following a lengthy debate, all councillors, with the exception of Campol, voted in favour of the site-specific option.

They also adopted a second motion directing staff to provide a detailed list of other policy options relating to cannabis retail sales to be discussed before a final bylaw is adopted.

You can view the discussion that took place online at www.osoyoos.ca.