A retail cannabis store has been given conditional approval by the town to set up shop on Main Ave. W.
The town’s planning and economic development director did not disclose who is behind the application for the store but said the individual wasn’t local.
The application is for a store at Unit 4, 110 Main Ave. W.
On Sept. 17 council passed second and third readings of a bylaw amendment that set rules for where the stores can locate as well as signage restrictions and on-site safety elements that must be considered.
“I think a lot of people in the community have been following Sundre’s position and I think we’ve kept people informed on the process. So I think those who are serious in applying, they were probably prepared to submit shortly after,” said Mike Marco.
Because cannabis retail stores are listed as discretionary uses in the land use bylaw, neighbouring property owners were notified and a 21-day appeal period has been instituted.
Anyone wishing to appeal the conditional approval has until Oct. 16 to do so.
The expiration of the appeal period is one of several conditions placed on the application.
“And there is a second prior-to-release condition which requires the applicant to submit an actual approved site improvement and landscaping plan for the premises with some other technical things around security that need to be addressed,” said Marco.
It is also conditional on the applicant obtaining a provincial licence to operate the store.
The province expects there to be about 250 retail outlets across Alberta. As of late August, the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC) had received 750 retail licence applications.
It was not immediately known if the Sundre store applicant has already applied to the province for a licence.
No licences have been issued yet, said AGLC communications manager Heather Holmen, earlier this summer. Legalization of recreational cannabis is not expected until Oct. 17.
Licensing can take months, she said. Some applications have already been rejected by AGLC or removed by the applicants for a number of reasons, she added.
All retail cannabis licence applicants must undergo extensive mandatory background checks.
Background checks are performed on an applicant, director, shareholders and key employees to prevent criminal interests from operating, associating or having a financial interest in cannabis retail sales in Alberta.
The business must be incorporated in Alberta or extra-provincially registered in Alberta. The business must be separate from any other business and must only operate for the purpose of a retail cannabis store.
Stores may not open earlier than 10 a.m. or close later than 2 a.m. and retailers must only purchase cannabis from AGLC.
Among the other conditions the province has legislated, cannabis retail stores must have a variety of surveillance and alarm systems and a secure storage area.
