BOWDEN - During its June 25 meeting, Bowden town council will be looking at passing an amendment to its land use bylaw, specifically dealing with cannabis retailing and production facilities.
The amendment is being crafted by Red Deer County's planning department. Council got an initial look at it during its June 11 meeting, but asked for hard copy to be drafted so they can examine it further before deciding whether to give it third and final reading (passage).
"They're working on all the bylaws for our land use -- like setting up for if somebody wants to have a cannabis (retail shop)," Mayor Robb Stuart told the Albertan.
"We need all the setbacks in place and all the rules and regulations that are going to make sure it's run properly. But they didn't put in the growing part," he added.
In May, two men -- Ron Keller and Nirbir Grewal -- approached council with a plan to set up a medical marijuana production facility just outside of Bowden.
Stuart noted it's outside town limits, but he wants to make sure the town is prepared if someone wants to set up a marijuana processing facility in the town -- including land newly annexed by the town.
"If somebody wanted to do that in our annexed land, that wasn't part of that bylaw. So they're going to amend that," Stuart said.
Stuart said the bylaw amendment does not specify where cannabis retail outlets can be in town. He said it only specifies "the setbacks" as outlined in provincial rules.
"It has to be 100 metres away from a school or a health facility. So if that pharmacy went in downtown here, then we couldn't have a cannabis store close to it," he said.
Stuart was asked if anyone other than Keller and Grewal have approached the town about setting up marijuana processing facilities in Bowden.
"We've had two or three, but they haven't made a formal application. They just have emailed me, saying 'we were thinking about coming to Bowden,' and I said, 'sure, come and make a presentation to council and we'll work with you if we can,'" he said.
That was two or three months ago. Stuart said he has not heard from those parties since then. They have not set up a meeting with council.
"I think they were just looking around," he said.
