Ten cannabis businesses received their development permits from the City of Grande Prairie Tuesday and are a step closer to opening once cannabis is legalized across the country in the fall.

The ten cannabis stores that were issued development permits are located at 10016 102 Ave., 11109 100 St., 10012 99 Ave., 9702 100 St., 11535 Westgate Dr., 9824 100 Ave., 10126 120 Ave., 9927 116 Ave., 10940 102 Ave. and 10518 100 Ave.

The locations met all the Land Use Bylaw requirements for a cannabis retail store, according to a release from the City. They will be allowed to open for business after legalization occurs once they’ve acquired a business licence and a licence from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission. Fifteen businesses were selected in a lottery draw last month which was used to determine who would receive licences from the city to open.

Contrarily, the City of Grande Prairie’s Infrastructure and Protective Services Committee rejected two applications for development permits for cannabis business retail stores Tuesday as well.

The retail outlets were proposed for 8032 100 St. and 9505 68 Ave.

The committee vote resulted in a tie, with Mayor Bill Given and Councillor Clyde Blackburn voting against, and Coun. Jackie Clayton, the committee Chair, and Coun. Eunice Friesen supporting the permit applications.

The applications received several letters from citizens who were opposed to the establishment of the businesses.

Citizens expressed trepidation towards the proposed 100 St. retail outlet, located in the Southview Strip Mall, due to its close proximity to a bar and the perceived risk that patrons may consume alcohol and cannabis on the same site.

The business at 68 Avenue received backlash due to its proximity to a nearby preschool and that tenants in the strip mall which it shares were not notified of its potential arrival — though the owner of the mall and nearby landlords had been made aware — as well as traffic and parking concerns.

Both of the rejected development permit applications were recommended for approval by city administration as they met all bylaw requirements, however, they were before the IPS committee due to cannabis stores falling under a discretionary land use in Local Commercial zones.

Blackburn stated he voted against the applications because he was concerned about the land use change and because of the childcare facility in the same strip mall at the 68 Avenue location.

He also heard from strip mall tenants at 68 Avenue who had not been told an application was in place for a cannabis retail outlet near them.

“There were a couple of us who were concerned about having a cannabis retailer in a zone that’s zoned as Local Commercial because of how close it is to residential, and especially the one on 68 Avenue because of the fact that there’s also a childcare facility in the same complex,” he said.

According to the Land Use Bylaw, while there are required setbacks for cannabis stores near elementary and high schools, there are none for stores near preschools as the children are very young and it’s unlikely that they would be unattended and might wander into the establishment. Additionally, according to the city bylaws, mall owners are not required to provide other tenants with notice of who may be moving into the site.

Coun. Friesen said that while she appreciated the concerns of nearby residents, she supported the two development permit applications because both met the setback requirements and all other criteria placed upon candidates.

“I saw no reason to deny them based on that,” she said. “The concerns that were brought forward (for the 100 St. retail outlet) govern use in the area, and use is a separate bylaw. So, where retail space is located is governed under one bylaw, and that location met all of the requirements that we set out under that bylaw.”

Coun. Clayton said that she supported the findings of city administration and the businesses to have the opportunity to open.

“Everybody’s concerns were valid, and there was a good discussion on the reasons to support it and not support it. At the end of the day, in my opinion, the licenses, for good planning reasons, were justified to be supported,” she said.

A split decision among IPS Committee members means the applications do not pass. Following Tuesday’s decision, the two applicants have 21 days to file an appeal with the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board or find another location for their business.

Administration is continuing to evaluate the three remaining cannabis retail outlet applications.

DanielLKatz@outlook.com