One cannabis store denied, three approved by Kamloops city council
KAMLOOPS - Four more applications for cannabis stores today tested the City of Kamloops bylaws today and may have exposed a flaw.
Councillors heard plenty of opposition to one application for a store proposed for 6-685 Tranquille Road, including Jaqueline Driver, a family support worker with nearby Lii Michif Otipemisiwak family centre.
"Would you be OK with having a retail cannabis store right beside a daycare?” Driver asked.
The family centre services families in precarious situations, including addictions. Several representatives from the centre voiced opposition to the location.
Coun. Bill Sarai said it pointed out a potential hole in the city’s bylaws and regulations.
"I think we need to go back as a council and add daycares and agencies that deal with children and youth at risk in that zoning language," he says.
The application was defeated with Mayor Ken Christian and Coun. Sadie Hunter supporting the motion. Coun. Dale Bass, and Coun. Arjun Singh were absent. Coun. Denis Walsh excused himself from the meeting due to a potential conflict of interest.
Three other proposals were all approved by council. Those applications will now go back to the province for further processing. That includes locations proposed for 100-125 4th Avenue, 520-1055 Hillside Drive, and 5-111 Oriole Road.
The total of approved applications in Kamloops has been brought up to 12.
Kamloops was home to the province’s first legal cannabis outlet on Oct. 17, 2018. Some cities in the province, including Kelowna, still don’t have any. It’s earned Kamloops the nickname ‘Kamsterdam’.
Go here to see more stories of retail cannabis stores being opened in Kamloops.
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