Surrey is one step closer to potentially allowing cannabis retail stores within the city.
The city has previously prohibited the retail sale of cannabis, although such stores are operating in person and online in neighbouring communities including Delta and Langley.
A request for proposals or expressions of interest closed on Sept. 17 after a 60-day window, and the city must now process the submissions. The city declined to disclose how many were received.
“Evaluation of submissions has begun and as such, the City will not be releasing information at this time,” an emailed statement attributed to the city’s planning and development department said.
“The RFEOI process will result in up to two applications per community advancing to council. The evaluation process is expected to be completed later this fall, with selected applications then advancing to city council for site-specific rezoning consideration and a public hearing shortly afterwards.”
After that, the timeline will be dependent on applicants completing the conditions of rezoning, business licensing and any associated building/tenant improvement permits, the statement noted.
Earlier this year, a public feedback campaign saw 4,169 surveys completed, with 96 per cent of respondents from Surrey.
“The results were supportive of retail cannabis in Surrey with 68 per cent of respondents supporting 12 or more stores city-wide,” a corporate report from Surrey’s general manager of planning and development Don Luymes and Joey Brar, general manager of corporate services, said.
“Additionally, 51 per cent of respondents reported they would be likely to visit future cannabis retail stores in Surrey.”
In April, council approved a policy framework meant to govern such businesses that allows for up to two retail stores per Surrey community – in Whalley/City Centre, Guildford, Fleetwood, Newton, South Surrey, and Cloverdale – to be permitted only in areas designated City Centre, Town Centre, or Commercial in the OCP, and on lots zoned C-5 Neighbourhood Commercial Zone, C-8 Community Commercial Zone, C-15 Town Centre Commercial Zone, C-35 Downtown Commercial Zone, or CHI Highway Commercial Industrial Zone.
The stores must be a minimum of 200 metres from public schools or provincially funded independent schools, City of Surrey community centres and recreation centres, and existing “Cannabis Retail or Production Locations” within Surrey.
While the regulation of non-medical cannabis retail stores is overseen by the province’s Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch, any proposals must be supported by local government.
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