THUNDER BAY – City officials are hoping the province will follow their recommendations to keep a buffer zone between identified sensitive areas and any future pot shops.
Thunder Bay city council on Monday night is expected to decide on approving the proposed policy, which would outline recommendations for where the city’s first brick and mortar cannabis store should be located.
The provincial government last month announced a second lottery process will be conducted this summer, allowing an additional 42 outlets to open province wide though there is a stipulation that five northern cities – Thunder Bay, Kenora, Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins and North Bay – will each be allocated one store.
Thunder Bay Drug Strategy coordinator Cynthia Olsen said while the policy is not binding, it guides the city’s response to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, which will ultimately have the final decision.
“If we didn’t have a policy in place, then your response could be very different each time,” Olsen said. “This is a set way that we know what our criteria is and how we will then respond to the province.”
The municipality, as well as the general public, as a 15-day opportunity to file submissions with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission for consideration.
While the province only requires that stores be at least 150 metres from schools, the city’s policy identifies a number of other sensitive use areas that are recommended to be at least the same distance away. Those include locations with youth-focused programming like parks, recreational facilities, community centres, libraries and child care centres. Other areas include group homes, addiction and mental health facilities,
The city is also recommending any storefronts be at least 150 metres away from rivers and watercourses.
The policy includes a map (page 94), which marks schools and the city’s identified sensitive use areas. The map also highlights suggested locations where retail establishments could be located within existing commercial areas that are not within close proximity.
“The municipality, through our consultations, has decided on those sensitive use areas that if a store were to be proposed in one of those locations that would be under 150 metres from them, we would say that it wouldn’t be in public interest, public safety,” Olsen said.
“It could potentially be increased access to youth or have areas for concern around crime.”
The province started accepting expressions of interest for the lottery process on Wednesday, with the window closing on Friday. Stores could open beginning in October.
