COMOX, B.C. – Today marks exactly one month from when the sale of recreational cannabis in Canada becomes legal.
And the Town of Comox wants to hear from you.
The town is holding a public hearing on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at the d’Esterre House, 1801 Beaufort Avenue.
The public hearing will deal with a proposed zoning amendment to permit and regulate the retail sale of recreational cannabis.
Copies of the proposed bylaw, as well as existing relevant reports and documents, will be available for inspection at Town Hall between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on the public hearing date.
The purpose of Comox Zoning Amendment Bylaw 1896 is to:
- Define Recreational Cannabis Retail Store;
- Establish specific locations in the Town where recreational cannabis retail stores will be permitted;
- Prohibit recreational cannabis retail stores within a certain distance of another recreational cannabis retail store;
- Delete recently adopted amendments under Comox Zoning Amendment Bylaw 1890 that established regulations for recreational cannabis sales in order to re-advertise the cannabis regulations of recently adopted Bylaw 1890; and
- Enable recreational cannabis retail sales on the same parcel that contains a liquor store at the Comox Centre Mall, provided that there is a minimum of 50 metres between a recreational cannabis retail store and a liquor store.
The Comox Centre Mall is one of the locations being considered for a cannabis retailer.
“We had a public hearing about the possibility of one being there and that still has to be brought back to council,” Comox Mayor Paul Ives said. “Until that happens we can’t really comment a whole lot on it. I would say that it’s something we would be dealing with over the next few weeks here.”
Regarding the public hearing, any written submissions can be sent by mail or e-mail, as long as the submission:
- Is received before 4:00pm on the public hearing date;
- Is addressed to Mayor and Council;
- Identifies the bylaw under consideration in the subject line, and;
- Includes the name and address of the person making the submission. Each such person is solely responsible to ensure that their submission is received on time. The Town will not issue any acknowledgement of receipt of such submissions.
