The former location of Osoyoos Signs on 72nd Ave. is up for consideration for a recreational cannabis store. Town Council hosted a public hearing on Monday to hear what the public had to say about the proposed zoning amendment bylaw. (Michele Weisz photo)
By Vanessa Broadbent
Osoyoos Times
The public had the opportunity to have their say about a proposed retail cannabis facility in Osoyoos at a public hearing on Monday and while no one opposed the facility’s presence in town, the location was questioned.
The zoning amendment bylaw, which Council gave first and second readings to at their Nov. 19 meeting, would allow site-specific zoning for the dispensary to operate at the former location of Osoyoos Signs at 8304 72nd Ave.
However, lack of adequate parking and proximity to Main Street topped the list of issues presented to Council.
Local real estate agent Barb Pasternak told Council she believes cannabis stores shouldn’t be “hidden” but on Main Street.
“If we are able to have cannabis sold in this town, and it is a viable business and it’s respectful, then I don’t feel it needs to be hidden,” she said. “It should be out in the open where everyone can see it.”
In a letter written to Council in advance of the hearing, Osoyoos resident Judy Dallas argued against the location stating that there are a number of residences nearby, it is on a route where children travel to school and there are two proposed residential developments nearby.
“Having the location basically ‘in a back alley’ does not seem to be a responsible location. It should be on a main street that is not ‘hidden away’ for better security considerations,” the letter read.
• Read more: Liquor branch wants to open cannabis store in Oliver
Applicant Richard Stagg, who is the owner and operator of Canna Cabana, a medical marijuana dispensary that opened on rural Oliver Regional District land earlier this year and is currently awaiting a provincial permit to sell recreational cannabis, disagreed and said the off-Main Street location provides privacy for customers.
“It’s marijuana – it’s respect,” he said. “Not everybody in this town necessarily wants other people to know they’re using cannabis. Some people do, some people don’t.”
Stagg also said the location provided better parking than Main Street would. His Oliver location saw an average of 100 to 200 customers daily and he expects similar in Osoyoos.
“We could have probably found a place on Main Street but sometimes you have to drive around two or three times just to find a parking stall. It’s congested.”
Karen Terrellin, who lives at a property in proximity to the proposed location, disagreed.
“It is quite difficult to get in and around that area,” she said.
“You compound that in the summertime when you have all the people doing the recycling and then you have the influx with tourism and it is very difficult to maneuver around the streets.”
• Read more: MP Cannings Comments On Cannabis, Proportional Representation And Proposed National Park Reserve
Richard Cooper, who owns Heatstroke Cycle & Sport, argued that the parking issue is similar on Main Street to anywhere nearby.
He told Council the proposal is an advantage to put the official community plan, which opens 72nd and 74th Avenues to commercial businesses, into practice.
“There aren’t that many venues available for rent as we speak,” Cooper said. “He’s found a reasonable place to put in this business and it’s not something that we should walk away from … I think it’s important if we want to better our community, to allow more business in.”
Local realtor Eileen McGinn shared her favour for the location, but said the Town should be provided with visual plans for the business as well.
“It’s something that’s important, not only that we have a permit but we see what it’s going to look like,” she said.
“I’ve been dealing with about three different large groups out of Vancouver that have huge shops with beautiful storefronts. That’s important if we approve that location, that it does have a nice appeal to it because we are trying to beautify that area downtown.”
Director of planning and development Gina MacKay clarified that a more detailed proposal would be presented at fourth reading of the bylaw.
Should Town council decide to move forward with Stagg’s application and give the bylaw a third reading and approval, provincial licensing will still need to be obtained, as well as a business license.
The former location of Osoyoos Signs on 72nd Ave. is up for consideration for a recreational cannabis store. Town Council hosted a public hearing on Monday to hear what the public had to say about the proposed zoning amendment bylaw. (Michele Weisz photo)
Why would you worry about ‘hiding’ the pot shop? We don’t worry about hiding the liquor store and aren’t they now both on equal footing?
“Applicant Richard Stagg, who is the owner and operator of Canna Cabana… disagreed and said the off-Main Street location provides privacy for customers.”
So we’ve legalised the drug but the stigma remains, is this the message? Wasn’t the whole point of this exercise to bring cannabis use into the open.
Make up your minds people. IT’S LEGAL!
And for the record I still maintain Gateway Plaza is far and away the best location for a pot shop. Buy-Low, A&W, 7-Eleven and soon to be… KFC! Come on kids, why are we even debating this?
Coffee Shops should sell..
Get behind Weed not in front blocking this Medicine..
People that don’t know diddly are making the rules again.. Boo
The retail marijuana industry will spike and then crash especially in the interior of BC. Why would you ever buy retail when it’s possibly the easiest plant to grow and it naturally thrives in our area? Soon it will become an invasive weed, growing in every ditch and vacant lot. No need for the government to collect more tax money from something that is a natural plant and can be easily grown.