NIPAWIN — Nipawin council has passed the first reading of a zoning bylaw change which would allow cannabis stores in the highway commercial district of the town.
This is part one of three readings, which will give an opportunity for residents to provide their input before council fully passes the amendments.
According to the report to council, there is interest in opening a cannabis retail store in the highway commercial district.
However, when council originally amended the zoning bylaw for allowing cannabis retail stores, administration recommended council consider the highway commercial district in the future. As a result, cannabis stores have only been permitted in the downtown commercial district.
Regardless of the district, the store would be required to be 50 metres from pre-schools, daycares, schools, parks, playgrounds, public recreation uses, community centres, and commercial recreation uses.
“The public will have an opportunity to provide any comments whether they’re for or against, or just general comments as they wish,” said Barry Elliott, Nipawin’s administrator. “That will be considered before we bring this matter forward to finish, or stop the process.”
Elliott said the next reading will likely occur in September with a public notice given.
