In B.C.’s eastern Fraser Valley, the District of Kent council heard thoughts of some area residents as they consider approving Agassiz’s first and only cannabis retail permit.
The district hosted a special public hearing prior to their most recent regular council meeting on Jan. 27 – an opportunity for members of the public to voice their comments and concerns about the potential new business development.
If approved, the cannabis retail location would be at 6446 Lougheed Hwy., on the corner of Highways 7 and 9. The property owners – JDH Holdings – already run a successful cannabis store in Fraser Lake.
The property has been the subject of developmental permit talks since 2021, when it was originally proposed that a Tim Hortons, a gas station and a convenience store be built on the site.
Vern Crouch told the district that the success of the owner’s cannabis retail experience is “a red herring” and not necessarily relevant to why it should be located in Kent.
“The argument that a cannabis store will employ people is a distraction,” he said. “Any human enterprise can create jobs and revenue if it is well run.”
Crouch went on to say adding a cannabis store to the district would “send the wrong message.”
“Yes, the product is legal to use, but making it more convenient to obtain could lead to increased use,” he wrote.
Robert Walsh – who has three children – lives directly across the street from the development.
“We moved from Abbotsford to get away from all the drugs and everything that the major cities have to offer,” he said. “I feel that although the gas station and the food establishments, as they are, would offer my family and my children jobs, maybe even some food or gas for myself.
“The cannabis doesn’t quite sit well with me, and I don’t know that if the store was there now I would have purchased the property.”
Yousuf Musan also lives across the street from the future development, but his viewpoint is different than Walsh’s. Musan has been travelling to Agassiz since his youth and feels the townsite has fallen behind.
“Even Rosedale, which is our closest neighbour, is becoming a better bedroom city than Agassiz,” Musan said. “For the future of this little town, any infrastructure that can bring more traffic into the city I strongly support, even if it means that we have to put a cannabis store in, which I am indifferent to.
“Personally, I can see the benefits and downsides of having such a structure. But I do support all the infrastructure that could go in and what kind of value that would bring to the community. I support this.”
Kyla Strong echoed Musan’s sentiments.
“I think it’s a great location, just slightly out of town. Also, being on the way to Harrison Hot Springs, it’s a perfect location,” she said. “I don’t see a lot of new businesses coming in and it seems like the same old businesses taking over anyone that closes.
“I think we need to allow for more growth in our community.”
Brent Brnanda was in support of the new potential shop. He pointed out the shop would be out of view and “not generally accessible by youth.” He disagreed with Crouch concerning the potential for increased use within the district.
“Customers of the shopping strip and the cannabis store generally enter and leave this location within a short period of time, reducing cannabis use in the public view within Agassiz,” Brnanda wrote.
District council has read the bylaw amendments related to the cannabis retail spot twice. In order for the permit and bylaw amendments to be adopted, they must be read a third time and are subject to approval from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure because highways are involved.
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