Ten retailers and the Government of B.C. have applied to the City of Coquitlam to open cannabis shops.
But only six dispensaries will be considered in the first intake — for five neighbourhoods.
Last December, following a public hearing, council gave the green-light to the city’s cannabis regulatory framework to allow cannabis production and processing, as well as retail in City Centre (two outlets); Burquitlam; Lougheed; Austin Heights; and Maillardville.
Businesses had 10 days in January to get their bids in once the policy was approved. According to the city, the applicants and their proposed sites are:
- Inspired Cannabis Co (201-1020 Austin Ave.)
- Boss Cannabis Austin Heights (1038 Austin Ave.)
- Northern Lights Cannabis (1052B Austin Ave.)
- Burb (100-1130 Austin Ave.)
- Imagine Cannabis (105-552 Clarke Rd.)
- BC Liquor Distribution Branch (750-3025 Lougheed Hwy.)
- KJ'S Best Cannabis (103-2700 Barnet Hwy.)
- Dutch Love Cannabis (1060-2929 Barnet Hwy.)
- The Local Leaf Cannabis (2957 Glen Dr.)
- Seed and Stone Cannabis (319 North Rd.)
- Brunette Cannabis (935 Brunette Ave.)
Senior planner Chris McBeath told the Tri-City News that staff are now reviewing the applications using the city’s evaluation criteria and intend to present their recommendations to council this spring.
Under the new rules, production and processing facilities will have to be 200 m away from “sensitive” places — that is, residential areas, schools, parks and childcare centres — while cannabis dispensaries need to have a 150-metre buffer.
As well, the shops must have transparent windows for their storefronts.
Meanwhile, the city is also looking for dispensaries
- to be 100 m from a parks and recreation site
- to be at least 100 m away from another cannabis retail store
- to have clear sight lines
- to be in character with the neighbourhood
Candidates’ business histories and community contributions will also be taken into consideration.
The rezoning applications will be processed by council on a case-by-case basis, with public hearings to follow.
Recreational cannabis use became legal in Canada in October 2018.
