Weyburn city council helped lay the groundwork for the opening of retail outlets of cannabis, once the federal government makes it legal to sell the drug in Canada as of October 17, 2018.
Council gave first reading to zoning bylaw amendments that will regulate how and where retail outlets can operate in Weyburn when legalization takes effect, and will hold a public hearing on the bylaw amendments on Monday, Aug. 27, in council chambers, before giving second and third readings to the bylaw.
For those wishing to open a retail outlet store in Weyburn, they will be restricted to three zones in the city: the central business district, major arterial commercial zones, and light industrial zones.
There are other restrictions as a discretionary use permit, with the store operation to be under the authority of the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, the same as a liquor outlet is.
Drive-through service is prohibited, stores have to comply with security requirements set out by the SLGA, and products must be stored on site with no offsite storage of products allowed.
Cannabis outlets also cannot be within a 200-metre radius of another approved cannabis outlet, any elementary or high school, any nursery school or commercial day care, or any social service home or halfway house.
Asked if this is typical of other communities, planning and development coordinator Amanda Kaufmann said every city she looked at is using a similar distance, with the exception of Moose Jaw.
In Moose Jaw, a cannabis store cannot be within 166 metres of a school, or 83 metres of a library or other public facility, or within 60 metres of Crescent Park, she said, noting that if any other changes come down from the federal or provincial governments, those changes will apply to the city’s bylaw as well.
Under the process set out by the SLGA and the province, Weyburn will be allowed up to two retail outlets, which was also approved by city council. Some communities, like Estevan, have opted to only allow one retail outlet.
City council officially appointed Mathew Warren as the new city manager for Weyburn at Monday’s council meeting.
Before accepting the role, Warren served as director of Leisure Services for the City of Weyburn for nine years. He was also appointed interim city manager after Roy Hardy’s departure in March.
As director of Leisure Services, Warren was involved in a number of facility projects including renovations to Crescent Point Place and Tom Zandee Sports Arena (2010-11), construction of Weyburn’s new outdoor pool (2010), the Young Fellows Paddling Pool (2016) and River Park Spray Park (2016).
Warren led development of Weyburn’s Leisure Facility Plan and is currently planning for the new Weyburn Recreation and Cultural Centre.
Warren brings 15 years of experience in different government roles with a focus on sports and recreation. Originally from Grenfell, Sask., Warren has called Weyburn home for nine years and lives here with his wife and three children.
