MELFORT— Melfort city council will be proposing a distance for cannabis stores of 150 meters from schools, parks and licensed daycares.
According to Brent Lutz, Melfort’s community development manager, this shouldn’t affect the businesses too much.
“Most of our commercial districts would already have more than 150 meters separation from public schools and there are only a few commercial locations that may be in that proximity of a playground,”Lutz said. “So the current zoning bylaw already has created some separation for these types of uses by having commercial and residential separated, but we wanted to ensure that locations would be appropriate.”
The proposition will have its first reading on Aug. 13. A special council meeting has been scheduled for Aug. 23 for consideration and final reading.
“We wanted to provide some certainty for operators so that they can know where they can locate this type of operation,” Lutz said.
Cannabis in Melfort will be sold by Vancouver-based Hive.
“I think the retailer has already expressed they want to be part of our business community, they want to be an investor in the community, an asset to the community and want to work with the community on bringing this new type of business here in Melfort,” Lutz said. “So they’re certainly prepared to work with whatever reasonable regulations the community thinks should be applied in this case.”
Cannabis becomes legal on Oct. 17.
