Update:
An application for a cannabis shop at 105 Second Avenue North in Williams Lake did not receive acceptance from city council and will not proceed to the public consultation process.
During the regular meeting Tuesday, May 14, councillors Craig Smith, Sheila Boehm and Marnie Brenner voted against the application and a variance amendent for Earth to Sky’s application.
Mayor Walt Cobb along with councillors Ivan Bonnell and Jason Ryll voted in favour. A tie vote counts as defeated.
Coun. Scott Nelson excused himself from council chambers because of a possible conflict of interest. Nelson owns a building on Broadway Avenue North where another cannabis shop has been proposed.
Original story:
Earth to Sky Cannabis has another application into the City of Williams Lake, this time for a location at 105B Second Ave. North where there was a movie rental store previously.
The company’s proposed retail store in the End of the Roll on Second Avenue North was rejected earlier in the year.
Read more: Proposed cannabis shop rejected because of downtown location
Ian Laing, owner of the company, told the Tribune he will need a variance because the proposed store location falls just short of the required 300 metre minimum distance from a licensed daycare. The location is 225 metres as the crow flies from the Cariboo Friendship Society’s daycare which will open at 254 First Ave. North and Exploring the Puddle Early Learning Centre at 239 Third Ave. North.
“We have some letters of support and we have reached out to the two day cares,” Laing said. “We really like Williams Lake and are going to give it another try.”
He said working with staff at the City has been great.
The application will go before city council at its regular meeting Tuesday, May 14.
Leah Hartley, director of development services, in a report to council is recommending council receive the application so it can proceed with public notification.
Ian Laing Properties owns 40 different businesses, including hotels, motels, pubs and condos, Laing said.
So far only one cannabis shop has opened in Williams Lake — Indigenous Bloom, a Williams Lake Indian Band business located on Mackenzie Avenue South.
A B.C. government cannabis retail shop is under construction in Boitanio Mall.
Read more: Health Canada changes cannabis licensing process in bid to cut wait times
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