Chestermere City Council received a report on the applications to open a retail cannabis dispensary in the city at the Dec. 4 council meeting.
Planning and Development Services Manager Jeff Gibeau told council that the city has received two applications for permits, one from Lake City Cannabis and one from Plantlife.
Both applications have been approved by the city and are in the discretionary use appeal period. Both appeal periods are set to end in early December.
As of the council meeting, no appeals had been received by the city for either application, however, concerns have been raised by the public about the Plantlife location in the Chestermere station shopping complex.
The concerns related to the proximity of the proposed Plantlife location to the Sylvan Learning Centre and the dance studio in Chestermere station.
In his presentation to council, Gibeau said that they have reviewed the Plantlife application and determined that it is in compliance with the city land use bylaw that governs cannabis retail stores.
“In regards to this location, we have reviewed the data and are sure that minimum distance setbacks regarding the cannabis retail use in the city’s land use bylaw does not include learning centres, dance studios, restaurants or barber shops,” he said.
Learning centres are not defined as schools by any level of government.
Since no setbacks are in place for the neighbouring businesses, barring a successful appeal, the current approval remains.
The final update given to council by Gibeau is that a third application has been received by the city for a location in Rainbow falls but that application is not yet complete.
