Pot shops applications sailed through Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 council with little discussion Monday afternoon.
Four months after the city香蕉视频直播檚 deadline for site rezoning applications, and six months after recreational marijuana was legalized in Canada, seven applications香蕉视频直播攆or stores on Bernard Avenue, Glenmore Road, Gordon Drive, Rutland Road South, Springfield Road and two on Harvey Avenue香蕉视频直播攚ere up on the agenda for discussion.
READ MORE: Cannabis shops in Kelowna inching closer to reality
They are the first crop of applications for legal cannabis retail operations in the city. Now that they香蕉视频直播檝e been given the green light, the applications will go to public hearings April 9, before final approval by council.
Coun. Charlie Hodge asked staff that since the cannabis store on Rutland Road South will be located next to a cannabis paraphernalia shop, Mary Jane香蕉视频直播檚 Headquarters, if the city has regulations for the shop.
Staff said paraphernalia stores are considered regular retail outlets.
City staff have said they do not expect stores to be open in the city before the end of spring.
READ MORE: Cannabis store operating illegally near Lake Country
The city received 41 applications for retail cannabis stores last fall, dramatically lower than the 香蕉视频直播渉undreds香蕉视频直播� planning staff originally expected. Of those, 31 were sent to special 香蕉视频直播渧etting香蕉视频直播� committee the city set up, which included planning staff, RCMP and city bylaw representatives. The vetting process took two months.
In February, the city announced 15 applications would be forwarded to council, including five selected in a lottery.
The lottery winners were picked from applications judged to be of similar merit but proposed for locations close to each other.
READ MORE: 15 cannabis retail store applications selected for Kelowna
The city has set location criteria for stores, including minimum distances from schools, parks and other stores selling cannabis.
City planning staff said the simplest applications would be considered first, with the ones requiring more work to be presented to council at a later date.
The cost of applying for a rezoning for a store selling cannabis was set at $10,495香蕉视频直播�$1,000 to apply and $9,495 if the application is forwarded for consideration. By comparison, most other rezoning applications in Kelowna cost between $1,000 and $1,800.
In addition to the bill for rezoning, once a store is up and running, the operator will be required to obtain city business licence at an additional cost of $8,000 per year. Retailers must also have a licence from the province to operate a store.
READ MORE: Okanagan 香蕉视频直播榩ot-caster香蕉视频直播� talks politics and weed sales
Last month, the city said identified the following sites as possible locations for cannabis retail stores:
香蕉视频直播� 547-559 Bernard Avenue
香蕉视频直播� 401 Glenmore Road
香蕉视频直播� 140-160 Rutland Rd S
香蕉视频直播� 3818 Gordon Drive
香蕉视频直播� 2090 Harvey Avenue
香蕉视频直播� 1455-1475 Harvey Avenue
香蕉视频直播� 2121 Springfield Road
香蕉视频直播� 1675-1677 Commerce Avenue
香蕉视频直播� 2339-2397 Hwy 97 North
香蕉视频直播� 1977 Kirschner Road
香蕉视频直播� 1310 St. Paul Street
香蕉视频直播� 889 Vaughan Avenue
香蕉视频直播� 175 Old Vernon Road
香蕉视频直播� 2053, 2065 & 2115 Rutland Court
香蕉视频直播� 1100 Lawrence Avenue
香蕉视频直播� 5505-5507 Airport Way
READ MORE: Pet Planet picks up Okanagan香蕉视频直播檚 cannabis for pets
carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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