The zoning bylaw amendments being brought in to coincide with federal cannabis legalization have cleared another hurdle in North Battleford.
The public hearing into the amendments took place at Monday’s council meeting. The hearing was uneventful, with no opposition expressed either during the hearing or in written correspondence.
That clears the way for second and third reading of the bylaw. At council Monday, City Planner Ryan Mackrell confirmed second reading was the next step and that third reading could also go ahead at the next council meeting.
“And that will pass the bylaw entirely,” said Mackrell.
The bylaw changes include provisions allowing cannabis retail outlets as a discretionary use in the C1 Downtown Commercial, the C3 Arterial Commercial, the C3A Large Lot Arterial Commercial and C4 Regional Commercial Districts, and setting a buffer zone of 225 metres from schools, libraries, recreation facilities and public parks. There also are provisions to allow use in the industrial zone.
So far, there has been no opposition expressed to the zoning changes at City Hall or elsewhere. A public meeting held by the planning department on the topic May 9 saw few people show up, a sign the public is accepting the changes.
Considerably more people showed up March 28 at a separately organized Cannabis 101 session put on by the Saskatchewan Chamber and WorkSafe Saskatchewan. There, local business people learned of the legal and workplace responsibilities associated with the legalization happening on July 1.
As for potential cannabis retail outlets, that is still up in the air.
North Battleford has been allocated two cannabis retail permits by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority. The application process has closed and an announcement is still pending as to which applicants have been successful.
