An application to vary the minimum distance required between approved cannabis retail stores is before the city of Williams Lake.
Shawn Dang, CEO and president of Aryon Holdings Ltd., said he has applied to put a store at 68 Broadway Ave. North but because it is less than 500 metres from an approved cannabis shop in Boitanio Mall he needs a variance.
“We are 150 metres away from the provincial cannabis store going into the mall,” Dang said. “The unique thing about our location is that we are separated by a highway and it would take about 700 metres to get to our location from the provincial location by walking or driving. I’m very comfortable that we’re going to win the variance.”
Read more: Three of five cannabis shop applications receive green light in Williams Lake
Dang said he originally looked at Boitanio Mall as a possible location, but realizing its distance from the Cariboo Memorial Recreation complex was not the required minimum of 300 metres from property line to property line, he applied for the Broadway Avenue location instead.
When he attended the Nov. 20 council meeting to discuss his application, he learned that city council had approved a variance for the mall location, and was encouraged by city council to also apply for a variance.
If the company’s store is approved, Dang said Aryon Holdings will be hiring people to undergo a 90-day training program.
“We will be giving extended health care and benefits to all employees after they complete the 90-day training.”
The application will be considered at the next council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 15.
Residents and owners of businesses located within a .8-kilometre radius of the proposed store may comment in writing to the city’s director of legislative services in advance of the meeting.
Roy Buxbaum, who received approval from the City for a cannabis retail outlet at 250 Mackenzie Ave. North where he owns Good Guys Gardening, said Wednesday he is still waiting for his final provincial approval from the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch.
As of Jan. 4, 2019 the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch website noted 232 applications for licences have been referred to local governments or Indigenous Nations. So far a total of six licences had been issued.
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