As the legalization of cannabis in October is quickly approaches, the Town of Eckville is looking to update their Land Use Bylaw to reflex the use of cannabis retial shops.
On Mon., Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. everyone is invited to a public hearing on the Land Use Bylaw Amendmentt the Eckville Town Office.
“Earlier in the year Council actually added some definitions for cannabis retail and cannabis lounge to the Land Use Bylaw, so the definitions were in the bylaw but there were no specific districts that would allow those uses,” said Darcy Webb, the finance and administrative supervisor at the Town of Eckville.
This proposed bylaw is recommending the addition of cannabis lounge and cannabis retail as “discretionary use” in the Central Commercial District, which is downtown, and in the Highway Commercial District.
“Even though the definitions are in the bylaw right now there are no areas in town where you could have a cannabis retail [location], for example,” said Webb.
“So if this bylaw is passed by Council, there would be two Land Use districts in town where they would be allowed.”
Webb also mentioned, if the bylaw were to pass, anybody who was still interested in opening, for example, a cannabis retail still has to follow the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commision (AGLC) guidelines and rules as to where it can go within those districts.
This public hearing is an opportunity for Council to hear the public’s opinions before finalizing the new bylaw.
It is an open meeting, but the Town asks that comments are sent in prior to the meeting. Those who are unable to attend can send in a written submission. Comments can be sent by email to admin@eckville.com or by fax to 403-746-2900. All submissions will be public information.
The Land Use Bylaw Amendment could be passed as early as Monday after the meeting or it could also be deferred to a later date.