Proposed cannabis store regulations for Langley City would limit their locations to commercial areas, mostly along the Langley By-pass, One-way and Glover Road stretches, keeping them at least 200 metres away from schools and 100 metres away from child care centres.
As outlined in a report to council from Carl Johannsen, City Director of Development Services, the regulations would also keep stores away from parks, plazas, playgrounds or public facilities and require a separation of at least 1,000 metres between such stores.
Council voted at their July 22 meeting to seek public input on the proposed rules before making a decision.
Mayor Nathan Pachal stressed that did not amount to approval.
“This motion, just for clarity, is about going to consultation. It’s not about approving the actual policy,” Pachal said.
Johannsen said staff planned to hold an open house to get public feedback and seek comment from the cannabis industry, as well as posting the proposal to the City website.
Proposed Cannabis store regulations for Langley City would limit their locations to commercial areas (in pink) and keep them at least 200m from schools and 100m from child care centres. Public consultation will take place before it is passed. Langley City graphic/Special to Langley Advance Times
If approved as presented, the regulations would see the City open a 30-day “application window” for cannabis store applications, with up to three “top-ranked applications” going to council as a “property-specific rezoning application involving a public hearing.”
An on-line survey by the City on zoning bylaw update topics, including cannabis retail, in
Respondents wanted cannabis stores kept away from schools, child care centres, parks, recreation centres and other cannabis stores.
“Written feedback also conveys a sense that a cautious approach should be taken, by way of directing stores away from areas frequented by children, parks and residential areas, limiting the number of stores, and locating stores in a distributed manner and on commercial properties in the City that are accessible and have ample parking (such as malls, strip malls, retail areas),” the report observed.
Langley Township, which has set similar proximity rules for cannabis stores, has also imposed a limit of one cannabis store per neighbourhood – in Aldergrove, Brookswood-Fernridge, Carvolth within Willoughby, Murrayville and Willowbrook.
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