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Cannabis retail outlet proposed for plaza on Promontory

Public meeting Feb. 12 for what would be first retail shop in City of Chilliwack
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Chilliwack’s first retail cannabis store is one step closer with an application to city hall and a public information meeting planned for Feb. 12.

The owners of the Promontory Hillside Plaza have applied to the City of Chilliwack to rezone one unit at the Teskey Way plaza from local commercial to the new cannabis retail.

The new C9 zone was approved by city council in September after a public input meeting in advance of marijuana legalization in Canada.

• READ MORE: Strong demand for cannabis retail applications anticipated in Chilliwack

Included in the cannabis retail zone is a restriction that says shops have to be 300 metres minimum distance from schools, community centres, sports fields, playgrounds, as well as supportive housing facilities or those serving vulnerable youth.

Promontory Heights elementary school is approximately 1.3 kilometres away from the proposed store at the Teskey Way location.

City hall anticipated strong demand once the new zone was created, and indeed within a few weeks there were four zoning applications in the queue. By Jan. 31, a city spokesperson said the planning department had 10 C9 rezoning applications.

One of the first out of the gate, Central Cannabis Company Inc., seeking to rezone a property in Yarrow, said in December their Chilliwack shop would be the first of eight in B.C.

On the day pot became legal in Canada on Oct. 17, the Central Cannabis rep tweeted: “We are preparing to open 8 Retail Cannabis Stores in British Columbia. Stay tuned!”

• READ MORE: Four companies vying to open cannabis stores in locations across Chilliwack

None of the 10 applications have yet come forward to council for consideration, but city hall anticipates the first will come forward “in the near future.”

Of course, it’s not like cannabis users can’t already get product in the city. Last July, the RCMP cracked down on two cannabis retail shops on First Nations reserves, Indigenous Bloom on Kwaw-Kwaw-Apilt land on Ashwell Drive, and The Kure Cannabis Dispensary on Skwah just off Wolfe Road.

• READ MORE: RCMP execute search warrants at Chilliwack cannabis shops on First Nations land

Both shops opened up the next day, but after legalization in October, The Kure shut its doors hoping to jump through the government hoops towards getting a legal retail licence.

Indigenous Bloom continues to operate and in fact has a second store set to open soon on Schweyey Road on Shxwha:y Village land.

Anyone interested in the proposed Promontory cannabis retail outlet is welcome to attend a public information meeting on Feb. 12 at Promontory Heights elementary from 6 to 9 p.m.

- with files from Jennifer Feinberg


@PeeJayAitch
paul.henderson@theprogress.com

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